Scots’ players to wear black armbands bearing poppies at Wembley

Poppies

Scotland players will defy FIFA by wearing black armbands bearing poppies during next Friday’s World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley.

The news was broken on the SFA website yesterday in the following statement: “We fully respect the laws of the game and take our founding role on the International Football Association Board extremely seriously.

“The poppy is an important symbol of remembrance and we do not believe it represents a political, religious or commercial message, nor does it relate to any one historical event.

“In keeping with what we believe is in accordance with Law 4, para 4, the Scottish FA intends to pay appropriate tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by having the Scotland national team wear black armbands bearing poppies in our fixture against England on Armistice Day.”

England will also pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The matter was raised during yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons.

Mrs May was asked by Labour MP Steve McCabe “Will she tell the respective associations that in this country we decide when to wear poppies and we will be wearing them at Wembley.”

The Prime Minister replied: “I think the stance that has been taken by FIFA is utterly outrageous.

“Our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives for our safety and security.

“I think it’s absolutely right they should be able to do so.

“It’s for our football associations but I think a clear message is going from this House: we want our players to be able to wear those poppies.”

“I have to say to FIFA that before they start telling us what to do they jolly well ought to sort their own house out.”