As the poppy farce continues, we ask why it is OK to commemorate the Easter Rising but not the Battle of the Somme?
FIFA was accused of double standards for banning British teams from wearing the poppy months after allowing the Republic of Ireland to wear a kit marking the centenary of Easter Rising.
The green shirts worn by Irish players including Shane Long in March featured the year 1916 — when almost 500 people were killed during a rebellion against the British — despite a supposed ban on “political” symbols by football’s top authority.
Unlike the touching Remembrance poppies, the badge sparked a huge backlash over its political context.
Sign the petition to let English and Scottish footballers wear their poppies with pride .
DUP member Nelson McCausland said at the time: “The uncritical endorsement of the rebellion by the government and others in the Irish Republic, including the Football Association of Ireland, reinforces a republican narrative which has, down the years, drawn young people into the IRA and other republican terrorist organisations.”
Falklands hero Simon Weston tore into Fifa, accusing it of having a grudge against Britain.
He said: “If the Republic of Ireland can have the Easter Rising shirts, how can they say we cannot have the poppy?
“This was a global conflict fought by global nations against one or two countries because of the evil those countries were spreading.
“Something in the house of Fifa stinks yet again.”
Sign the petition to let English and Scottish footballers wear their poppies with pride .
But Fifa stood firm over the ban — shunning the wishes of hundreds of thousands of Brits including the Prime Minister, the Royal British Legion, war veterans, sports stars and celebrities.
Even luvvie Gary Lineker seemed to back our English and Scottish footballers wearing the poppy when they meet on Armistice Day.
In a sarcastic message to his five million Twitter followers, the England legend said: “Let’s not be too hard on FIFA. With their strong moral principles, it’s not often they get it wrong. #poppygate.”
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However, football’s governing body said that while it “fully respects” the significance of Remembrance Day, its laws state: “Players’ equipment should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages.
“The Laws are applied uniformly in the event of similar requests by any member association to commemorate similar historical events.”
Afghanistan war vet Andy Reid, a triple amputee, also backed our campaign, saying: “Fifa’s ban is ridiculous. The poppy stands for remembrance, not for any political or religious symbol.”
Iraq and Afghan war hero Stewart Harris, 32, who gave Theresa May her poppy this year, added: “The poppy is something that we wear to show we remember the sacrifice made for everything that makes this country great.”
Rugby ace Danny Cipriani, telly’s Judge Rinder and Strictly star Craig Revel Horwood also backed our cause.
FA chairman Greg Clarke stopped short of vowing to defy Fifa yesterday, but said poppies would be displayed in some form next Friday.
He said: “We’re balancing respect for the fallen with respect for the world governing body. We’re negotiating with Fifa to find a solution but there will be poppies at Wembley.