Fifa bans poppies on England players

World football body Fifa has rejected the Football Association’s request for England players to be allowed to wear embroidered poppies on their shirts during their weekend match against Spain.

The FA had made a special request for permission to wear the poppies to support Remembrance Day.

But in a letter Fifa said: “We regret to inform you that accepting such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football.

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“Therefore, we confirm herewith that the suggested embroidery on the match shirt cannot be authorised.

“There are a variety of options where The FA can continue supporting the cause of Remembrance. One of them already was approved by Fifa, the Period of Silence.”

Fifa’s rules say that shirts should not carry political, religious or commercial messages.

However, it has allowed England players to wear poppies on their training kit on Friday and for a minute’s silence to be held before the game against the world champions Spain at Wembley the night before Remembrance Sunday.

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Sports Minister Hugh Robertson wrote to Fifa urging a re-think for both the England game and Wales’s match against Norway.

He said: “We fully understand, and respect, Fifa’s rules on its member nations not adorning their shirts with ‘commercial’, ‘political’, or ‘religious’ symbols or messages.

“However, the British public feels very strongly about this issue which is seen as an act of national remembrance to commemorate those who gave their lives in the service of their country.

“It is not religious or political in any way.”