FIFA and Poppygate

Fretwired

Gassage said:

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.

But is doesn't. The Poppy Appeal aims to raise money for the Royal British Legion - I have no problem with this and I always contribute as it is a good cause, but I don't think it has a place at an international football match. Football, and sport in general, should be inclusive and about bringing people of all nationalities and faiths together.

Gassage

Fretwired said:

But is doesn't. The Poppy Appeal aims to raise money for the Royal British Legion - I have no problem with this and I always contribute as it is a good cause, but I don't think it has a place at an international football match. Football, and sport in general, should be inclusive and about bringing people of all nationalities and faiths together.

OK, agreed, but I certainly don't limit my thoughts/respects to them alone.

Re football, I would also say I don't count it as a proper sport from an ethical behaviour perspective. Rugby, Cricket, Golf (outside US) etc all have the right approach. Soccer does not.

MattBanshee

ICBM said:

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.

The poppy is 100% political. I refuse to wear one for as long as they lump the murderous Blairite warmongering illegal invaders in with the people who fought to DEFEND the borders of this country (last seen in the Falklands, never since).

jpttaylor

Well that escalated quickly...

 FIFA have rightly said that the pre-match commemorations can go ahead as planned and the players are welcome to wear armbands with poppies on, they just can't be stitched into the shirt.

I really don't see how this much fuss has been created over stitching.

fields5069

jpttaylor said:

Well that escalated quickly...

 FIFA have rightly said that the pre-match commemorations can go ahead as planned and the players are welcome to wear armbands with poppies on, they just can't be stitched into the shirt.

I really don't see how this much fuss has been created over stitching.

You've never seen my wife in full-tilt quilt mode.

thermionic

Gassage said:

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

But only those on one side. Which kinda makes it political.

Teetonetal

The poppy should not be anywhere near international sport. 

earwighoney

Gassage said:

Re football, I would also say I don't count it as a proper sport from an ethical behaviour perspective. Rugby, Cricket, Golf (outside US) etc all have the right approach. Soccer does not.

Any particular reasons for this perspective? 

ICBM

MattBanshee said:

The poppy is 100% political. I refuse to wear one for as long as they lump the murderous Blairite warmongering illegal invaders in with the people who fought to DEFEND the borders of this country (last seen in the Falklands, never since).

Are you seriously suggesting that the British servicemen who fought in Iraq were responsible for starting the war?

CHRISB50

earwighoney said:

Gassage said:

Re football, I would also say I don't count it as a proper sport from an ethical behaviour perspective. Rugby, Cricket, Golf (outside US) etc all have the right approach. Soccer does not.

Any particular reasons for this perspective? 

He doesn't like football?

Nikko

CHRISB50 said:

earwighoney said:

Gassage said:

Re football, I would also say I don't count it as a proper sport from an ethical behaviour perspective. Rugby, Cricket, Golf (outside US) etc all have the right approach. Soccer does not.

Any particular reasons for this perspective? 

He doesn't like football?

And like most people that don't like a particular sport, it gets dismissed.

Now then...Dressage...THAT is a sport!

Fretwired

ICBM said:

MattBanshee said:

The poppy is 100% political. I refuse to wear one for as long as they lump the murderous Blairite warmongering illegal invaders in with the people who fought to DEFEND the borders of this country (last seen in the Falklands, never since).

Are you seriously suggesting that the British servicemen who fought in Iraq were responsible for starting the war?

Not sure what he's suggesting but we do live in a multicultural society and many Muslims are very sensitive about our part in the wars in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Post 1945 we also have issues with Palestine, Suez and the Mau, Mau uprising in Kenya which was not our finest hour.  We need to be careful what wearing a Poppy comes to symbolise as the last of the WW2 veterans die.

UnclePsychosis

Gassage said:

Fretwired said:

But is doesn't. The Poppy Appeal aims to raise money for the Royal British Legion - I have no problem with this and I always contribute as it is a good cause, but I don't think it has a place at an international football match. Football, and sport in general, should be inclusive and about bringing people of all nationalities and faiths together.

OK, agreed, but I certainly don't limit my thoughts/respects to them alone.

Re football, I would also say I don't count it as a proper sport from an ethical behaviour perspective. Rugby, Cricket, Golf (outside US) etc all have the right approach. Soccer does not.

Yeah, maybe football should be more like Rugby, where there has never been institutionalised cheating or disgusting and cowardly attacks on the opposition.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/european-rugby/11276718/Bloodgate-How-the-scandal-unfolded-when-Harlequins-met-Leinster-in-April-2009.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye-gouging_(rugby_union)#High-profile_cases

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/watch-wigans-ben-flower-punch-4422159

Christ, the England Rugby captain has served a full year's worth of bans ffs.

This "holier than thou" bollocks from Rugby fans is hilarious. Their sport is utterly filthy. Which is fine, except they all seem to get a hypocritical hard-on pretending it isn't.

scrumhalf

A few random thoughts:

1) It's a FIFA-sanctioned competition. FIFA have their rules, and this one was known before the competition commenced. Now, FIFA may well be an organisation of dubious moral probity and of even more dubious financial probity, but that's not exactly news. When you sup with the devil you may have to end up doing things you would rather not. We could have opted not to enter the competition, rather then enter it knowing the rules and attempting to circumvent them having entered.

2) Why are poppies appearing on shirts now (or in very recent years)? Why were they not features of shirts many years ago when significant numbers of fans would have had immediate family who lost their lives in wars, and when the players themselves may have served in the forces compulsorily? It was never considered when I watched football forty years ago. You might have had a wreath-laying ceremony.

3) If the poppy is that important, make sure that every seat has a large poppy flag on it for fans to hold during the pre-match silence.

holnrew

The poppy is too "are boys r heros" Britain First brigade for my liking these days.

Deadman

holnrew said:

The poppy is too "are boys r heros" Britain First brigade for my liking these days.

You're in the minority thankfully.

fields5069

It's all about show these days. My boss has a great line: "We have to be seen to be doing something". What I get from that is that we don't actually have to do anything, just be seen to be doing something. Very complicated. Why can't we just do something?

Why can't I just remember? No, you have to be seen to be remembering. Why can't I sympathise/empathise with the victims of the latest atrocity and their families? No, you have to be seen to be doing it! V. important. Not sure why though.

fretmeister

The PM is now sticking her oar in.

I am now more convinced than ever that FIFA are correct.

fretmeister

I just thought of a solution.

If a player can correctly identify the dates of the World Wars without google then they can wear one.

professorben

Nikko said:

CHRISB50 said:

earwighoney said:

Gassage said:

Re football, I would also say I don't count it as a proper sport from an ethical behaviour perspective. Rugby, Cricket, Golf (outside US) etc all have the right approach. Soccer does not.

Any particular reasons for this perspective? 

He doesn't like football?

And like most people that don't like a particular sport, it gets dismissed.

Now then...Dressage...THAT is a sport!

Any activity that places posh girls in jodhpurs gets my vote.