England asks FIFA to rethink poppy ban for Spain soccer friendly - Vancouver Sun

LONDON — British sports minister Hugh Robertson on Tuesday added his voice to calls for FIFA to allow England players to wear poppies to mark Armistice Day in their friendly match against Spain on Saturday.

Robertson wrote to world soccer's governing body asking them to revise their decision to ban the players from wearing poppies and also asked for Wales players to be permitted to wear them in their friendly with Norway.

FIFA, though, has issued what it describes as a final statement in rejecting the request, claiming it would "open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardizing the neutrality of football."

FIFA said in a statement on Saturday that it had a blanket policy barring kits from carrying messages or symbols.

"FIFA's regulations regarding players' equipment are that they should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages," the statement said.

"FIFA has 208 member associations and the same regulations are applied globally, and uniformally, in the event of similar requests by other nations to commemorate historical events."

Robertson said that while he understood FIFA's regulations, he felt that the poppy did not fall into any of those categories.

"I am writing to you in support of requests from the Football Association and the Football Association of Wales to ask you to consider allowing the England and Wales football teams to wear poppies on their shirts for Saturday's international matches, taking place a day before Remembrance Sunday," he 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 and FAW do not intend to contravene these rules.

"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. 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."

FIFA have said that England's players and staff will be allowed to wear poppies on their training kit during the pre-match warm-up and a minute's silence to be held before the game.