poppyWhen FIFA announced that England players would not be allowed to wear the Remembrance Day symbol on their shirts when they played Spain last week there was uproar! This is because of rules prohibiting political gestures.
The poppy emblem which is the symbol for those who have lost their lives in service since World War 1 is a treasured icon in the UK. However, The English Football Association's request to use the poppy emblem was turned down based on FIFA rules on uniform and equipment which state that ''they should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages.''
Football's world governing body also added that while it respects England's wish to remember ''the lives of members of their armed forces’ any request to ''commemorate historical events'' would be rejected for all 208 football countries.
However they agreed to observe a minute's silence before the England V Spain match played on November 12th at Wembley, the day after Remembrance Day.
Update on this article
It appears that Prince William came to the rescue of the England squad with his successful intervention in the row between FIFA and The English Football Association. In a unique about face FIFA allowed the symbol to be worn by the English team.
