Wounded war heroes back fight to let Brit players wear poppies with pride
THE Sun’s crusade against the ban on England footballers wearing poppies was taken to Fifa’s Swiss HQ yesterday by three angry war heroes.
Falklands warrior Simon Weston led the trio as they delivered our petition bearing almost 300,000 names.
Sign the petition to let English and Scottish footballers wear their poppies with pride .
Ex-Royal Marine Ben McBean, 29, and fellow Afghanistan veteran Sgt Rick Clement, 36 — who both lost limbs to Taliban bombs — were with him.
They jetted out to Zurich in disgust at poppy motifs being outlawed on Three Lions shirts in next Friday’s Armistice Day World Cup qualifier at Wembley. Footie’s shamed world governing body yesterday refused to discuss its veto.
Simon, 55, said as the petition was handed to an official: “Fifa needs to learn what the poppy is about.”
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England and opponents Scotland plan to defy Fifa’s ruling that poppies are too “political” to wear.
Both teams risk being docked World Cup qualifying points. Players will be issued with black armbands featuring a poppy.
Our petition demands they should be allowed to sport them with pride emblazoned on their shirts.
The points threat comes despite Argentina escaping with a pitiful £20,000 fine two years ago after its players hoisted a banner before a game laying claim to the Falklands.
Simon Weston was severely burned in the 1982 battle for the isles when the invading Argies bombed one of our ships, killing 48 Welsh Guards.
Britain is not the only country that has been suffering from the result of war
FIFA Sec General Fatma Samoura - administrator wants to block England and Scotland players wearing the Poppy
Sign the petition to let English and Scottish footballers wear their poppies with pride .
He said: “It does not get much more political than the Argentinians holding that banner. The poppy is not about that. The poppy is about helping veterans and remembering those who sacrificed so much.”
Ben, who eight years ago lost an arm and a leg in Helmand, said: “Fifa’s ban is daft.
“Both FAs should drop this poppy on the armband idea and put it on the shirt as it should be.”
Rick, who lost both legs in 2010, said: “It’s a cop-out to put it on an armband. It should be on the shirt just as it is in the Premier League.
“Who is going to complain about the poppy on a shirt? Nobody.”
Fifa need to learn what the poppy is really about
Simon Weston, War Hero
Yesterday she was in London but ignored mounting uproar that saw our petition soar to 303,000 names last night.
During a seven-hour meeting with the International Football Association Board to discuss rules of the game she did not mentioned the row once.
Ban is daft. Fifa have let England and Scotland down
Ben McBean, War Hero
FA chief executive Martin Glenn confirmed to The Sun the issue was never raised. He discounted fears that even the armbands gesture could see England docked vital points.
Mr Glenn said: “There is no precedent for it. We don’t believe we have broken the rules. I just think Fifa are wrong.”
PM Theresa May has already blasted the ban as outrageous.
Yesterday Culture Secretary Karen Bradley urged Fifa to “see sense”. She said: “We stand right behind both the FA and the Scottish FA in their decision to wear poppies. I’ll be at the match next week.”
It’s not a political symbol - it’s about remembrance
Rick Clement, War Hero
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confessed “surprise” at the ban.
Ex-England defender Danny Mills, 39, suggested players get temporary tattoos on their hands. He said: “When the national anthems are played, put your hand on your heart and it’s there for everybody to see.”
Fifa’s Mrs Samoura was yesterday whisked out of Wembley by a back exit to dodge the media.
A car is believed to have taken her straight to Heathrow so she could bolt back to Zurich.
Deon Jacobs was among fans who vented their anger at her on Twitter. He said: “You are a disgrace.”