Source: Daily_Mail
FIFA poppy ban: David Cameron happy to defy ban
David Cameron has paved the way for England's footballers to deliver a huge snub to FIFA and wear poppies against Spain on Saturday.[LNB]The Prime Minister is furious that football's governing body is refusing to back down over their pleas to wear the flower on their shirts to mark Remembrance Day.[LNB]Asked if PM believes the players are free to defy the FIFA ban., a No10 spokeswoman says: 'Yes, of course'.[LNB] Row: England want to wear poppies on their shirts[LNB]Aides to the Mr Cameron later said that it was a matter for players to decide for themselves whether to ignore the ban, though he would support them if they did.[LNB]'We are not going to start ordering the football team what they should do,' said one aide.[LNB] The FA were ready to concede defeat in their bid for England to wear the poppy - despite MR Cameron sticking the boot into FIFA.[LNB]Even though Cameron has fired an attack at FIFA over their refusal to change the rules, the FA are now focusing on a series of alternative ways to mark Remembrance Day.[LNB] Fury: David Cameron continued his attack on FIFA in the Commons[LNB]A statement read: 'The FA would like to clarify that the organisation and England players at all levels will be showing their respect and marking Remembrance Day in a number of ways.[LNB]'We have been working closely with the Royal British Legion who have welcomed our support. We can confirm that: [LNB]The England players will wear black armbands during the Spain game on Saturday;The FA will place a poppy wreath on the pitch during the national anthemsThere will be a one-minute silence ahead of kick-offPlayers will wear training tops with embroidered poppies on match dayPlayers will wear poppy-embossed anthem jackets during the national anthemsMilitary representatives will be in the presentation party prior to kick-offThe FA has donated 500 England v Spain tickets to 'Tickets for Troops', for members of the Armed Forces, and 1,000 tickets for the England v Sweden game on Tuesday (this is standard FA policy for Wembley matches)The England senior squad will train at Wembley on Friday ahead of the Spain game. They will observe the two-minute silence at 11am, all wearing training tops embossed with poppies. This session will be broadcast liveThe training tops embossed with poppies will be passed onto forces' charities post-match as auction items for fund raisingThe poppy will be visible around Wembley on Saturday, on the scoreboards and advertising boards, and poppy sellers will be in the stadium to allow supporters to donate to the poppy fund and show their supportOn Thursday, England Under 21s play Iceland in Colchester and England U19s play Denmark in Brighton. All players and staff will be wearing poppies pre- and post-matchBoth the Under-21s and U19s will observe a one-minute silence, too, at their games - the Under 21s will do so alongside troops from Colchester barracks.' Anger: David Cameron[LNB] [LNB]It comes as Prime Minister David Cameron waded into the debate with a stinging attack on FIFA.[LNB]Mr Cameron said: 'This seems outrageous. The idea that wearing a poppy to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom is a political act is absurd. [LNB]'Wearing apoppy is an act of huge respect and national pride. I hope that FIFA will reconsider.'[LNB]He then told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons: 'This is not an issue of left or right or Labour or Conservative.[LNB]'We all wear the poppy with pride, even if we don't approve of the wars people were fighting in ... to honour the fact that these people sacrificed their lives for us.[LNB]'It's absolutely vital for FIFA to understand that and I think a clear message going out of this House and from this Government can make them think again.'[LNB]The Royal British Legion has backed the FA's stance despite the loss of presence on the players' shirts for the game.[LNB]Director General Chris Simpkins said: 'There are other ways to honour the poppy than by wearing it on a shirt. [LNB]'The FA has helped us explore every alternative available and we are satisfied that England will enter the competition knowing they have shown proper respect for our Armed Forces.[LNB]'The Legion never insists that the poppy be worn or insists that others allow it to be worn. We are grateful when people wear it as a sign of respect, but the decision must be a free one - after all, the poppy represents sacrifices made in the cause of our freedoms.[LNB]'The bonds between the Armed Forces and professional football are as broad as they are long. The co-operation we've received from the FA and the FAW has been top drawer and we'll be happy for this match to proceed.'[LNB]England Under 21 manager Stuart Pearce spoke on the issue ahead of his side's 2013 European Championship qualifier against Iceland on Thursday.[LNB] Pride: Stuart Pearce wears at poppy at the press conference[LNB]He said: 'Whether I understand it or not, you ask the question, they give a decision and you get on with it, that is the nature of it - but whether you have anything emblazoned on your shirt at the time, it is what is in your heart which matters.[LNB]'We would have like to have done it as an organisation and a country, but the powers at be say they don't want us to do it.[LNB]'That is the end of it, but it will not diminish what is in my heart and the respect for those who have given their lives for this country.[LNB]'And it certainly won't diminish any of the thoughts of the millions of people who will respect [it] over what is a very important weekend for our country in general.[LNB]'It will not diminish anything in my mind or our players minds, or the majority of the country. The question was asked, they said no, so we move on, but it does not take away any of the respect we have for the people who have fought and died in the wars.'[LNB]The FA's fading hope of displaying poppies received welcome and dramatic support on Tuesday night - from Germany. [LNB]As FIFA issued a 'final statement' rejecting the FA's poppy plea, their ridiculous stance was further damaged as a senior German football official declared they have no issuewith the gesture. [LNB] Worn with pride: England's rugby league team will have the poppy on their shirts for Saturday's match against New Zealand[LNB]The prospect of causing offence to Germany by wearing poppies against Spain on Saturday is one of the reasons given by FIFA for its rejection of the idea.[LNB]A storm raged on Tuesday night, with players such as Rio Ferdinand and Jack Wilshere joined by Cameron in condemnation of another FIFA snub.[LNB]Germany's Federation general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach said: 'This is a decision for England and we would behappy for them to make it. [LNB]'I am totally surprised (by the suggestion that German people might be offended) because it just hasn't been mentioned here. [LNB]'TheFederation has not heard of, or been involved in, any discussions aboutpoppies and whether England should be allowed to wear them on Saturday.[LNB]'I cannot imagine we would have any objection to the idea of England's players having poppieson their shirts. It just wouldn't be a problem to us. It wouldn't be anissue.' [LNB] Backing the bid: Wilshere and Ferdinand have called on FIFA to change their mind[LNB]TWEETING THEIR SUPPORT What RIO FERDINAND tweeted Powers that be do make stands on certain issues I see! #selective #onlysaying What is Fifa's reason for not allowing a poppy to be worn during the england match?? [LNB]What JACK WILSHERE tweeted England team should wear poppies on saturday. Its the nations tradition and it would be disrespectful not to! #ENGLISHANDPROUD My Great Granddad fought for this country in WW2 and I'm sure a lot of peoples grandparents did so #WearThePoppy [LNB]Undeterred, FIFAstamped down again and insisted they will not budge, despite the growing fury following Sportsmail's exclusive story last Saturday. [LNB]TheFA has gone to the extent of preparing a poppy embroidered Umbro kit, but will not wear it without a late FIFA turn-around. [LNB]Englandwill instead take to the field at Wembley wearing black armbands and with the poppies adorning the tracksuit tops for the national anthems and one-minute silence before the game. [LNB]There will also be poppy-related messages on the perimeter boards as the FA do all they can to recognise the emotive occasion despite FIFA.[LNB]The 'final statement' letter to FA chief Alex Horne from Jerome Valcke,secretary general of FIFA, arrived just as Minister of Sport Hugh Robertson was promising Government backing if the FA were to defy the FIFA mandate. [LNB]Robertson said the Zurich football overlords had misunderstood the importance of Remembrance Sunday. [LNB]Robertson's own protest letter to world football's discredited governing body reflected the widespread public outrage about FIFA's objections over honouring the Armed Forces who had made the ultimate sacrifice.[LNB] England players Ferdinand and Wilshere encouraged the FA to go ahead and display the poppies. Meanwhile Jim Boyce, a member of the FIFA ExCo committee, was asking for a U-turn from Zurich. [LNB]Niersbach made a mockery of FIFA's implied concern about German offence surrounding the poppy being worn against them in future November fixtures around Armistice Day. [LNB]Robertson wrote: 'We fully understand and respect FIFA's rules on its member nations not adorning their shirts with commercial, political or religious symbols or messages. The FA do not intend to contravene these rules. [LNB] 'However, the British public feel very strongly about this issue which is seen as an act of national remembrance to commemorate those who gave their lives in the service of their country. It is not religious or political in any way. [LNB]'Wearing a poppy is a display of national pride, just like wearing your country's football shirt. I hope very much that you will approve this request.' [LNB]FIFA'S JIM IS ONSIDE TOO Armistice Day is a very important day in the FA calendar, as it is with other associations, and I don't think it would offend anybody to have a poppy on the shirts. Common sense should prevail. [LNB]JIM BOYCE(Northern Ireland's FIFA-vice president)[LNB] The FA hope for a last-minute FIFA reprieve but know Belgium referee Frank de Bleeckere would be under orders from FIFA to ensure shirts adorned with poppies are not worn as things stand. He would apply the letter of FIFA Law 4 Decision 1, forbidding additional marks on shirts. [LNB]The FA are not prepared to bring on such a confrontation in the tunnel before a sell-out match. The FA have been in dialogue with FIFA for weeks over the poppies, with the stand-off first revealed in the Daily Mail leading to nationwide uproar led by war veterans. [LNB] FIFA's obstinate stance has remained consistent throughout and was reiterated once again to the FA yesterday. An excerpt from the 'final statement' letter read: 'We regret to inform you that accepting such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world jeopardising the neutrality of football. Therefore we confirm herewith that the suggested embroidery on the match shirt cannot be authorised. There are a variety of options where the FA can continue supporting Remembrance. One of them already was approved by FIFA, the Period of Silence.' [LNB] No favours: FIFAs Jerome Valcke (right), is refusing to let England wear poppies[LNB]The emailed letter came from Valcke, who is currently in Brazil on World Cup 2014 business, rather than President Sepp Blatter, who spoke at the International Football Arena conference in Zurich on Monday. Afterwards he told reporters that the poppy issue was nothing to do with him and was being dealt with by the administrative side of FIFA. [LNB]However, FIFA's new ExCo member Boyce was prepared to speak out and called for common sense to prevail. [LNB]He said: 'I think there has to be a bit of common sense used when requests like this come in. Armistice Day is a very important day in the FA calendar, as it is with other associations, and I don't think it would offend anybody to have a poppy on the shirts.[LNB] 'As this is a special request from a member of FIFA and is not of a political nature I believe that common sense should prevail and it should be looked at in a different light.'[LNB] Rugby league shows FIFA the way: England and Four Nations teams to wear poppiesEngland ready to give up poppy shirt battle despite Cameron's attack on 'absurd' FIFANow Germans back us to wear poppies as Cameron blasts 'absurd' FIFA
