Should England & Scotland be allowed to wear poppies?

[Arnoldtoo]

Talks going on between the FA & FIFA as to whether the England & Scotland players should be allowed to wear poppies for the qualifier on Nov 11th; Armistice Day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37832115

Talks?

They should last 3 seconds and the answer is 'Yes, of course they should, don't be so bloody stupid.'

 

[Col_M]

With Brexit can do what the deck we like!

But the Scots might be confused.

 

[tototoner]

Anyone else bored to death with the annual Poppymania in the UK, i know I am.

The reason behind the poppy has now been completely lost, its now a social and political tool

 

[mpickard2087]

If the FA's want to do it then they should just get on with it. What are FIfa going to do? I know this is an organisation that seemingly relishes dragging its public standing lower and lower, but I doubt even they would pick a fight over commemorating the Remembrance Weekend.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

If the FA's want to do it then they should just get on with it. What are FIfa going to do? I know this is an organisation that seemingly relishes dragging its public standing lower and lower, but I doubt even they would pick a fight over commemorating the Remembrance Weekend.

I'd say it's down to the players rather than having someone make that decision across the board.
If some choose to wear one then fine, if some don't, then that's fine as well.

 

[Danners9]

FIFA say no political gestures on the shirts.

Last time it was an armband. That is probably the most sensible compromise.

 

[Lilbaz]

It's not political, religious or commercial. It is to remember soldiers that died in all wars.

 

[tototoner]

If the FA's want to do it then they should just get on with it. What are FIfa going to do? I know this is an organisation that seemingly relishes dragging its public standing lower and lower, but I doubt even they would pick a fight over commemorating the Remembrance Weekend.

In a very extreme case they could deduct points or throw them out of the tournament.

I would suspect it would only be a fine though, but think they will end up with a compromise like having poppies on armbands again.

It's pathetic the way the media peddling this story though

 

[talkshowhost86]

It's not political, religious or commercial. It is to remember soldiers that died in all wars.

It clearly is political as otherwise we wouldn't be discussing it.

That obviously wasn't the intention of the poppies, but rightly or wrongly some people see it as a political symbol, and it would be interesting to see what would happen if, for example, the German national team wanted to commemorate their war dead.

I think it's a shame that it is an issue because I'm sure the majority just want to remember those who served the country in wars that we consider just.

Unfortunately, unless you assume the UK has always been in the right 'war-wise', it's hard to commemorate those soldiers without making some sort of political comment, intended or not.

 

[Lilbaz]

It clearly is political as otherwise we wouldn't be discussing it.

That obviously wasn't the intention of the poppies, but rightly or wrongly some people see it as a political symbol, and it would be interesting to see what would happen if, for example, the German national team wanted to commemorate their war dead.

I think it's a shame that it is an issue because I'm sure the majority just want to remember those who served the country in wars that we consider just.

Unfortunately, unless you assume the UK has always been in the right 'war-wise', it's hard to commemorate those soldiers without making some sort of political comment, intended or not.

The poppy is for the germans that died to. It is for all soldiers in all wars that have died. It is not meant to be about sides or who was right/wrong victors/losers. Hence why it is not political.

 

[Danners9]

I think it's a shame that it is an issue because I'm sure the majority just want to remember those who served the country in wars that we consider just.

A genuine question because I don't know.. but.. have they always been for 'all wars', or was there a point when it changed from WW1/WW2 to become all wars? There is a difference between those two conflicts and most of the ones that have followed and this where the politicising comes in. Take James McClean's comments about the army and Derry, for example.

 

[talkshowhost86]

The poppy is for the germans that died to. It is for all soldiers in all wars that have died. It is not meant to be about sides or who was right/wrong victors/losers. Hence why it is not political.

It may be supposed to be that, but it's clearly not how it's seen by many people, and I can imagine the outrage if the Germans wanted to put a poppy on their shirt.

Like I said, the intention is non-political, but due to the very nature of war it's hard for it not to be.

A genuine question because I don't know.. but.. have they always been for 'all wars', or was there a point when it changed from WW1/WW2 to become all wars? There is a difference between those two conflicts and most of the ones that have followed and this where the politicising comes in. Take James McClean's comments about the army and Derry, for example.

I think the official line is what Lilbaz says above. All soldiers who have died in war.

It used to be much more oriented towards WW1 and WW2 but it does seem that the overall message now brings in more wars/battles and that's why some people will find it tricky.

I should point out that I will wear a poppy and wear it with my own personal view of what it means, but I can see why that becomes more of an issue when a team representing a nation as a whole is asked to wear it.

 

[tototoner]

It's not political, religious or commercial. It is to remember soldiers that died in all wars.

No, that's what it used to be

 

[Gassin's finest]

Jesus, this shit again? Who honestly gives a fuck?

 

[longtimespur]

I've just got my Spurs poppy for this year, will wear it all year round as it has the Spurs badge on the same pin.

 

[Lilbaz]

No, that's what it used to be

That's what it is. I have never seen or heard of it's meaning changing.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Jesus, this shit again? Who honestly gives a fuck?

Lots of people I think.

Obviously I don't know how this feels as I've never been in the position, but I can certainly see why, for example, an Irish person whose family were killed by British soldiers whilst we tried to clamp down on their independence may see the poppy as provocative at best.

I just think leave it as a choice for the individual.

 

[talkshowhost86]

That's what it is. I have never seen or heard of it's meaning changing.

Even if that is what it is (and I think that's a big if), surely you can still see why some people find it hard to accept as something that they should have to agree with?

Nobody is saying ban the poppy. Just don't enforce it on anyone.

 

[Freddy Adu]

The poppy is for the germans that died to. It is for all soldiers in all wars that have died. It is not meant to be about sides or who was right/wrong victors/losers. Hence why it is not political.

Is that actually true? Not saying you're lying but do you have any evidence that this is the case?

From my understanding, the poppy is a symbol used by the Royal British Legion to remember those who died in war (also used by some commonwealth countries and possibly others), but are you implying that includes all of the Chinese soldiers who died in the Opium Wars, all of the Axis soldiers who died in WW2, all of the Taliban who died in Afghanistan this century? If so, that seems a bit weird.

 

[aliyid]

Players should be allowed to display a poppy if they want to but it shouldn't be forced onto anybody as it generally creates more tension and starts to be viewed as a political act.

Personally I always wear a poppy but I understand why some people choose not to. As soon as you force somebody to do it the whole action of wearing a poppy and showing respect loses all value and meaning.