Theresa May slams Fifa’s ‘utterly outrageous’ poppy ban and says England players should be free to recognise those ‘who gave their lives’
THERESA May has slammed Fifa’s "utterly outrageous" ban on poppies being displayed on England football shirts.
The Prime Minister joined forces with the Sports minister Tracey Crouch to back The Sun’s campaign to overturn the heartless decision by the governing body.
At Prime Minister’s Questions this lunchtime she attacked Fifa, which has been plagued by corruption allegations, for barring the poignant emblem from next week’s Armistice Day clash with Scotland.
She told MPs: "Before they start telling us what to do, they jolly well ought to sort their own house out."
A number of other officials at the scandal-hit organisation have faced charges including wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.
Speaking in the Commons today Mrs May said: "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 is absolutely right that they should be able to do so."
She said it was a matter for the English and Scottish Football Associations, but there was a "clear message" from the House of Commons that "we want our players to be able to wear those poppies".
Ms Crouch said: “Footballers representing home nations should, if they choose, be allowed poppies.
“To have them compete with poppies on their shirts would be particularly poignant as we continue to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.”
And a former Culture, Media and Sport Secretary says England should risk a points deduction to allow its footballers to wear the poppy in next week’s Wold Cup qualifier.
Speaking to BBC 5 Live's Emma Barnett, John Whittingdale said: "For them (FIFA) to try and brand the poppy as a political symbol shows a total misunderstanding, and I think there are a number of reasons why we are already profoundly unhappy with Fifa's behaviour and conduct and this adds to that list."
Asked of the FA should potentially risk a points sanction, the MP said: “Yes.”
Bond legend Sir Roger, 89, blasted Fifa, saying: “A poppy isn’t a political statement, it is respect”.
He added: “Fifa’s president is Swiss, its ex-president was also Swiss. They’ve been neutral for 400 or 500 years, so they don’t have any feelings about what it means to be killed or invalided by war.”
Support for our crusade against the Fifa ban came from the worlds of the military, politics, sport and showbiz.
Colonel Richard Kemp, former British Army commander in Afghanistan said: “This is absolutely disgraceful.
“England and Scotland should ignore the ban and take the consequences. Our soldiers faced far greater dangers than being dictated to by some tinpot dictator from Fifa.”
Fresh hope for a new stance from Fifa bosses was sparked last night as it emerged the policy was likely to be discussed at a summit tomorrow.
The International Football Association Board will discuss possible law changes when they meet at Wembley.
Fifa’s general secretary Fatma Samoura will be at the talks, hosted by FA chief executive Martin Glenn.
Scottish FA chief Stewart Regan said Fifa had turned down a request for players to wear armbands featuring poppies — as worn by England for a match in 2011 — because they are “sticking to the letter of the law”.
Meanwhile Fifa’s decision to brand the poppy a “political statement” is seen as “insulting and disrespectful” by the UK public, it was claimed yesterday.
Damian Collins, who chairs the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has written to bosses at the organisation, demanding they reverse their ban.
He wrote: “In no way could the remembrance poppy be regarded as the kind of political, commercial or religious symbol that Fifa restricts from being displayed on players’ shirts.
“Many people in the UK find it insulting and disrespectful that Fifa could regard it as such.”
The Tory MP said the English and Scottish football associations backed poppies on players’ shirts.