England players will have poppies on their shirts when they face Scotland in their World Cup 2018qualifieron ArmisticeDaydespite FIFA rejecting their request to wear them, according to FA chairman Greg Clarke.
Clarke revealed to ITV during an interview that England players will have a visible presence of poppies on their shirts despite a FIFA ruling banning nations wearing anything that could possible be construed as a religious or political statement.
My personal opinion, and actually the same opinion I hold as the chair of the FA, is that of course we should wear poppies,� Mr Clarke told ITV.
England players will wear poppies despite Fifa ban https://t.co/sXa5yAODGe pic.twitter.com/Ta8DEHWgAQ
"We're commemorating millions of people who gave their lives in wars over the last 100 years and they deserve that, and the people who lost relatives deserve that, and that's our plan.
"We're balancing respect for the fallen and their families, with respect for the governing body, and we're negotiating in good faith with Fifa to try and find a solution, but there will be poppies at Wembley.�
Both England and Scotland have contacted football's governing body over a possible exception to the rule, withScottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan confirming on Tuesday that he was working on a possible solution, reaffirming that the wearing of a poppy is intended purely a sign of respect for those who lost their lives in the war.
Fifa turns down a request from England and Scotland for players to wear poppy armbands on Armistice Day
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"We will be asking for their support to try to give the people of England and Scotland what they want," Regan told BBC Radio 5 live. "That is to use this match of a way of remembering people who lost their lives in the war.
"I can understand why they are doing this, but it is nothing more than a mark of respect. It is a personal choice. This is not about making some political point."
Prime Minister Theresa May slammed FIFA's decision as outrageous during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.
Prime Minister @Theresa_May calls @FIFAcom's apparent poppy ban for international footballers "utterly outrageous"https://t.co/d4fS3U5i9S pic.twitter.com/HkX2dwPJmy
"I think the stance that has been taken by Fifa is utterly outrageous," May said.
"Our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives for our safety and security. I think it is absolutely right that they should be able to do so.
"I think a clear message is going from this house we want our players to be able to wear those poppies and 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."