FA contact FIFA again over poppies

Poppy
12 April 2012

The Football Association have once again written to FIFA asking them to change their minds about letting England wear poppies on the shirts when they take on Spain on Saturday.

FIFA have allowed a minute's silence to be held before the sell-out game. In addition, the England players will wear poppies on their training kit at Wembley on Friday, and will stand for the traditional two minutes' silence to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month in an act of remembrance.

However, FIFA will not allow the Three Lions to wear poppies during the game because it contravenes their rules regarding what can be put on shirts. In addition, there are sensitivities throughout an umbrella body for 208 nations to take into account.

The FA have made it plain they have no wish to get embroiled in a row over the matter, and realise FIFA have overall responsibility for that matter.

However, chief executive Alex Horne has been in contact with the world governing body asking them to reconsider.

"I believe we have sent another letter to FIFA from Alex Horne, making a fresh request for this to be reconsidered. We will see where we get to with that," said Club England managing director Adrian Bevington.

"Everyone is aware of our feelings on the importance of wearing the poppy.

"We wrote to FIFA three weeks ago now, setting out our request. We were advised by them that for various technical reasons around what you can wear on the shirt, they were declining our request.

"They have granted us the minute's silence before the game against Spain. We are wearing poppies at training on Friday and are also having a two minutes' silence.

"In addition, we will also have the armed forces on the pitch at the start of the game on Saturday and 500 servicemen and women in the stands, which is our continued standard contribution to the armed services."

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