Is this a case of 'poppy fascism'?

[sp1814]

I want to state my position on this from the outset - I think it's absolutely nuts to expect Fifa to okay the wearing of poppies on a football shirt:

http://www.dailymail....having-poppy-kit.html

So what if players can't wear them during a game? They can do what the rest of us do - buy one and pin it to their jacket/jumper/whatever.

Why the hell do they need to wear it on a football strip? And why are charities and war heroes describing it as an insult to those who died? Footballers have never worn poppies on the pitch before, so what's the big deal?

[Messi_Ten]

It happens every year. Wear a poppy or suffer a fate worse than death.

I'm waiting for the "Muslims ban poppies" headline!

[JackDanielsU]

"Footballers have never worn poppies on the pitch before, so what's the big deal?"

Yes they have, if you actually read the article

[THECORBYLOON]

Various clubs have had the poppy on their jerseys but it's not been going that long. The English FA made the mistake of asking for permission rather than just going ahead and doing it.

[DTCwordfan]

At the outset I am surprised AOG hasn't jumped all over this one, a DM special.

The Radio 4 interview with some football official made a very salient point. Permit this and then, in principle, the Iranians could wear some anti-Israeli button....or whoever re political buttons and propoganda.

I agree with you as to pre and post match....and there is nothing stopping England/Wembley putting up poppies on the Monitors or on an Ad hoarding or two.....

[vulcan]

Footballers have worn black armbands so I can't see what's wrong with a poppy, both are to commemorate the dead. Perhaps if they wore an armband with poppies sewn to it will please everybody.

[DTCwordfan]

Messi - psml - where do most of the world's poppies grow - in Muslim countries.

[joko]

it does seem an over reaction, but at the same time - whats the harm? if the player wants to wear one then let him ... they are just asking for trouble

[Lonnie]

I don't know if it's a nationwide policy, but my local Icelands is refusing to sell poppies, first time that I can recall, but as far as a football team is concerned, I think it should be a players individual choice, so long as they ar the stick on ones.

[DTCwordfan]

That is so wrong of Icelands....Boycott them, freeze them out.

[jno]

"Because of the respect these high profile role models garner from our children?"

So Rooney would become a saint if only he could wear a poppy? Naah... Fifa is right, if England wear one, the Mongolians will be wanting to wear daffodils to mark National Yurt Day.

[boxtops]

I was delighted to see a large Poppy Day flag flying over Debenhams in Canterbury yesterday - good for them.

if the footie strip people can stick or sew players' names on their kit, why can't they add a poppy as well, for this one-off game?

[piggynose]

why not white poppies?

[jno]

Ianlang: nope. But my own country has its own national holidays of various sorts: should it be able to deamd the right to change football strips to mark them?

[ichkeria]

FIFA are right: you have to see it from their point of view: allow this and it opens the door to other, perhaps less reputable requests.
England players - and others - are free to wear actual poppies at all other occasions, so why insist on this?

[Ann]

Glad the new poster around 18.40 had his answer removed and all his other answers by the looks of it - his user name is horrible. Thanks Ed

[B00]

Yes jno, are you a troll? if so, bad bad BAD!!!

;-)