FIFA and Poppygate

Gassage

I'm not a footballist by any means but FIFA are, to coin a phrase, well out of order on Poppygate.

I hope the players make a stand.

It's not political- it's about honouring those that fought.

fields5069

It amazes me that common sense does not prevail immediately. But then FIFA is staffed by people who have lots of experience of officiousness. This "discussion" is employing a team of people for a week. There is much coffee to be drunk, many croissants to be dunked.

ICBM

Presumably the Royal British Legion doesn't give out brown envelopes.

EricTheWeary

FIFA doesn't allow political or religious symbols on kits ( although there must be some club badges that are?). However, they've allowed poppies on arm bands before so the precedent for what to do here is clear.

I don't really understand what FIFA do all day but they must be aware that they need to improve their PR a great deal and that nonsense like this isn't helping.

ICBM

The poppy is not a political or religious symbol.

It's particularly appropriate in an England-Scotland match too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_F.C._and_World_War_I

There were some English teams who also signed up en masse, or close to it, as well I think.

UnclePsychosis

I actually agree with FIFA's stance on this. Allowing poppies on the shirt risks opening a very big bag of worms regardless of how "common sense" we in the UK might think it.

The Poppy is in danger of becoming an obsession with image rather than what it should be, an act of remembrance. We're at the point where TV presenters get hounded if they're not wearing one 24/7 for a week either side of the 11th, its getting ridiculous---being seen wearing one is now more important than the actual remembrance part.

Nunogilberto

UnclePsychosis said:

I actually agree with FIFA's stance on this. Allowing poppies on the shirt risks opening a very big bag of worms regardless of how "common sense" we in the UK might think it.

The Poppy is in danger of becoming an obsession with image rather than what it should be, an act of remembrance. We're at the point where TV presenters get hounded if they're not wearing one 24/7 for a week either side of the 11th, its getting ridiculous---being seen wearing one is now more important than the actual remembrance part.

This.

James McClean gets a lot of stick for not wearing a poppy but his reasons for that are sound enough, given his feelings on Bloody Sunday.

joeyowen

And let's not forget the issue with James Mclean... that was a shitstorm and a half

jpttaylor

joeyowen said:

And let's not forget the issue with James Mclean... that was a shitstorm and a half

Happens every year now, and the tabloid circus is still just as tedious.

joeyowen

At least we can rely on The Sun and Daily Mail to remain unbias, tactful and generally not hate preaching


ohhhh waiiiittttt

lustycourtier

I wear a purple poppy, and have been oven crap for wearing it. 

fields5069

UnclePsychosis said:

I actually agree with FIFA's stance on this. Allowing poppies on the shirt risks opening a very big bag of worms regardless of how "common sense" we in the UK might think it.

The Poppy is in danger of becoming an obsession with image rather than what it should be, an act of remembrance. We're at the point where TV presenters get hounded if they're not wearing one 24/7 for a week either side of the 11th, its getting ridiculous---being seen wearing one is now more important than the actual remembrance part.

Except I haven't read anywhere that FIFA have these same reasonable thoughts, so not really their "stance" as such. Isn't FIFA pretty much all about image? I won't wear one, just the same as I won't super-impose a cocking French flag on my Facebook profile picture or cure cancer by posting a black and white photo of some shit. I think an armband should be available to wear though, for those that want to. It's not really an FA, SFA or team decision.

fretmeister

I think on balance (and it's close) I agree with the ban.

It reminds me a little of some facebook groups I'm a member of - the adverts for the "buy this to support AMERICAN workers, or AMERICAN veterans" etc with zero thought that the group is truly international and contains members from everywhere.

There is a danger to come across as "we are better than you"

There is enough nasty nationalistic bullshit in football already and I'm not convinced showing the poppies during a form of entertainment helps anything.

It smacks a bit of "oo look at me, aren't I good for wearing one" - If they want to wear a poppy on their own clothes or attend a remembrance event without a press conference then they can do that.

If the players / teams / controlling bodies want to do something specific then they could change the nature of the games on remembrance weekend and make then openly charity events where all profits get donated.

I won't hold my breath.

Fretwired

fretmeister said:

I think on balance (and it's close) I agree with the ban.

It reminds me a little of some facebook groups I'm a member of - the adverts for the "buy this to support AMERICAN workers, or AMERICAN veterans" etc with zero thought that the group is truly international and contains members from everywhere.

There is a danger to come across as "we are better than you"

There is enough nasty nationalistic bullshit in football already and I'm not convinced showing the poppies during a form of entertainment helps anything.

It smacks a bit of "oo look at me, aren't I good for wearing one" - If they want to wear a poppy on their own clothes or attend a remembrance event without a press conference then they can do that.

If the players / teams / controlling bodies want to do something specific then they could change the nature of the games on remembrance weekend and make then openly charity events where all profits get donated.

I won't hold my breath.

Good post @fretmeister .. sums up my view.

crunchman

If FIFA don't want political stuff at games then they need to do away with national anthems as well.

They also need to ban heads of state from attending games and sitting in the VIP boxes etc.

They are complete hypocrites - on top of all the other corruption etc.

I just can't be bothered with football any more.  I haven't even checked my fantasy team the last 2 weeks.  I ought to keep up with that at least for office bragging rights.

Nikko

Im sure if the players feel strongly enough about it they will do something; have a poppy sewn into their boots or have one on a vest under their shirt ready to show off if they score etc.

Fretwired

Just have a one minutes silence to remember that fallen on both sides. That's showing respect.

fretmeister

'm just looking forward to some idiot journo asking an Argentinian or German why they aren't wearing a poppy.

BigBearKris

Fretwired said:

Just have a one minutes silence to remember that fallen on both sides. That's showing respect.

100% agree.

UnclePsychosis

fields5069 said:

UnclePsychosis said:

I actually agree with FIFA's stance on this. Allowing poppies on the shirt risks opening a very big bag of worms regardless of how "common sense" we in the UK might think it.

The Poppy is in danger of becoming an obsession with image rather than what it should be, an act of remembrance. We're at the point where TV presenters get hounded if they're not wearing one 24/7 for a week either side of the 11th, its getting ridiculous---being seen wearing one is now more important than the actual remembrance part.

Except I haven't read anywhere that FIFA have these same reasonable thoughts, so not really their "stance" as such. Isn't FIFA pretty much all about image?

The second paragraph was clearly my own opinion, not FIFA's.

Gassage

Fretwired said:

fretmeister said:

I think on balance (and it's close) I agree with the ban.

It reminds me a little of some facebook groups I'm a member of - the adverts for the "buy this to support AMERICAN workers, or AMERICAN veterans" etc with zero thought that the group is truly international and contains members from everywhere.

There is a danger to come across as "we are better than you"

There is enough nasty nationalistic bullshit in football already and I'm not convinced showing the poppies during a form of entertainment helps anything.

It smacks a bit of "oo look at me, aren't I good for wearing one" - If they want to wear a poppy on their own clothes or attend a remembrance event without a press conference then they can do that.

If the players / teams / controlling bodies want to do something specific then they could change the nature of the games on remembrance weekend and make then openly charity events where all profits get donated.

I won't hold my breath.

Good post @fretmeister .. sums up my view.

All I would say in return is that it also covers (in my opinion) the Polish, Russians, Keewees, Aussies, Indians etc that served....so I don't see it as overly nationalistic.

And, I would also suggest there's a disparity between nationalisitc pride and passion and nationalism as a racist mechanism- although I'm not blind to the thrust of your point.