I'm bracing myself for some flack here, but I think FIFA were right.
For those that have not being paying attention the English football scene is all hot under the collar because FIFA said that our brave lads couldn't have shirts with a poppy emblazoned on them for their friendly international against Spain on Saturday. FIFA have a rule no political, religious or commercial messages may be worn on shirts during a match. England bleated that poppies are none of these things but a statement of remembrance for those killed during conflict.
I come from a military family and strongly believe that it is important to honour the dead. I wear a poppy with pride and encourage my children to do so to. Remembering the dead is important and should not be trivialised in any way.
And herein comes my problem. England have played football internationals during the beginning of November some 37 times since 1918 and not once have they ever worn a poppy on their shirt. Why now?
Could it possibly be to do with the fact that English football is under pressure. The England captain stands accused of making racist comments, it seems that most of the rest of the team are unable to stay faithful to their wives for longer than it takes to down a glass of champagne and everyone thinks the amount of money they are paid is obscene. There is a genuine feeling of antagonism towards these indulged boys and their equally spoilt football entourage.
Maybe I am becoming more cynical in my old age but is it outside the realms of possibility that there was a conversation in the English FA that went something along the lines of this:
"hey we really need to get the general public back behind us, what can we do. I know, lets get them wearing poppies, that'll go down well with the tabloids. What FIFA won't let us? Even better! We can kick up a right old stink, get everyone behind us as we pluckily stand up to that corrupt organisation to honour our boys. It's a total winner!"
However hard I try, I can't shake the feeling that it is the English FA that is trivialising the wearing of the poppy and all that it stands for. Much as I loathe FIFA, I do think this time they were right.
(I've got a whole other post about how cross I am at feeling the poppy has been hijacked by nationalist agendas but I have to pick the boys up from school so it'll have to wait and don't even start me on the comprimise they have adopted - my blood pressure can't take it).
I agree with this post wholeheartedly and was about to write a similar one myself.
ReplyDeleteI think fifa has gone back on the ban after Prince William got involved :) but it shouldn't take this kind of intervention in the first place although it will probably have raised awareness for The Poppy Appeal
ReplyDeleteIf our 'Lads' are so determined to commemorate our war dead and support our current troops why don't they each donate a single week's wages to the Poppy Appeal?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Anonymous on this. I have no time for football and think they are grossly overpaid, but I know this isn't the issue you're discussing here. I know I'll come in for flack too, but I honestly don't have an opinion on wearing poppies. I think "wear one, don't wear one". It should be a matter of choice.
ReplyDeleteThere we go! Financial donations would be far more meaningful than wearing a damn flower. I mean, come on. It's like the plethora of multicolored ribbons over here in the USA. Nothing against the show of support, but it's all flash without a solid backing.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounds like a PR move. I mean, how can you complain about lads wearing poppies? (How stupid do they think everyone is?)
ReplyDeleteI think they should have been allowed to wear the poppies on their shits in the first place - I thought they were just wearing them on their shirts because it's Remembrance Day this weekend....after all everyone on TV has been wearing them for ages, it would seem odd if the national team didn't.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post :)
Well said and I completely agree.
ReplyDeleteAccording to FIFA, “Players’ equipment are that they should not carry any political, religious or commercial message,”
Poppies are a political emblem – it is politicians who send soldiers to die in wars.
FIFA is already enmeshed in controversy after its decision to give membership to Palestine, something that could be considered to be a highly political decision.
I completely agree that if the footballers want to show some solidarity and standing for our fallen soldiers, they could donate some of their time, or their inflated wages to the Poppy Appeal.
As you say, the England football team has never had poppies printed on their shirts before, why couldn't they just hand over a wreath to some veterans before the game (and a week's wages!) rather than kick up such a stink - seems to me to be the kind of trick that the daily mail pulls on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we can applaud Barcelona wearing UNICEF on their shorts and then condemn Remembrance poppies, but the British Legion need to be careful that that proper remembrance isn't starting to cross the line into a rather shadowy form of lobbying.
ReplyDeleteGood post - as others have said, far better to contribute money to the cause than just have a symbol on their shirts. Sadly I suspect that the hype around wearing poppies will be all that these footballers will do to help the cause
ReplyDeleteI think it's sad when symbolism is mistaken for cynicism. I'm glad they wore the symbol and glad FIFA backed down.
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