Isn't it time we ditched FIFA (Poppyg8)?

[Silver Fox]

Dear the media

FIFA have not made a U-turn, if they had the England team would be wearing the poppies on their shirts that they requested. What has happened is in fact a compromise, thanks in order of influence to some woman off of BBC Berks, Kerplunk, Wills, the EDL and Dave Cameron.

Sincerely
S. Fox aged 40 and 5 twelfths

[Svlad Cjelli]

But then again the whole story was wrong from the start.

FIFA didn't stop England, England wanted to do something the rules wouldn't allow.

[Maguire]

Surely this is just an object lesson to the world in the art of compromise?

Israel and Palestine should learn from this.

[Stranded]

Dear the media

FIFA have not made a U-turn, if they had the England team would be wearing the poppies on their shirts that they requested. What has happened is in fact a compromise, thanks in order of influence to some woman off of BBC Berks, Kerplunk, Wills, the EDL and Dave Cameron.

Sincerely
S. Fox aged 40 and 5 twelfths

This.

I'm amazed how big an issue this has been every November when England play an international around Rememberance Day - oh wait, what do you mean it never has been before.

[Svlad Cjelli]

England have played 11 internationals in November in recent years.

Just file this under Daily Mail stirring - and Charlie Sale in particular!

[TheMaraudingDog]

Just out of interest, when football fans up and down the country were kicking up a fuss about this what dishing FSF do?

[Svlad Cjelli]

If it's a serious question and not a troll, I'll answer it .....

As far as I know (it's not my policy area so can't be 100% sure) we made a decision not to adopt a public stance on it, because it was obvious that it wasn't an issue where all supporters agreed - we did a lot of work trying to find out what views were and got a mixed-bag of responses back. For every one saying "this is outrageous" there was another one saying :

Completely understand FIFA's position on this. If they allow this it would open a whole can of worms. How about Bosnia wearing something commemorating the Srebrenica massacre? Or Rwanda commemorating the 1994 genocide?

I just think it's not up to FIFA to adjudicate on these things and they're quite right to have clear, unambiguous rules and that they stick to them without muddying the waters.

Was going to post something similar but thought against it as everyone would think I'm on a wind up but agreed.

We also spoke to the press a lot giving both sides of the equation - but it was also clear from the phone calls received from journos inviting us to be outraged that this was a newspaper's bandwagon. Anyone who tried to give a balanced view (or not give the quotes the journo wanted) did not get quoted - that's the way the media works these days. And we know Charlie Sale (the Mail journo who started this ball rolling) of old and know how he works.

We also spoke to various people about this, but not for the sake of publicity. I know our Chairman spoke at length to FA people, and when the story broke I was at a meeting with the Football League (primarily about EPPP) but we discussed the issue there. The informal consensus was that the FA had performed a miracle in actually finding a new way to get FIFA to hate them even more!

But on issues we won't take a policy position until we know all the facts and know that our policy will properly represent supporters' views - and where it's clear supporters' views are divided we come out publicly in favour of any "side" until we're sure. And in any case, the best and most effective campaigning and influencing is usually done behind closed doors, not via the media.

[Terminal Boardom]

There are a number of countries that use the poppy. Even some in the Middle East. What would be far more effective would be if the global community, under the auspices of the UN, were to agree to a world-wide day of rememberance. This way, no-one could possibly be offended or upset. I certainly do not have an issue with anyone remembering their fallen - regardless if they fought against us or any of our allies in the past. Then, any international sporting event that falls on this global day of rememberance, can be respectfully observed by whoever wishes to observe it.

[TheMaraudingDog]

So the FSF did nothing then. Fair play.

[Svlad Cjelli]

If that's what you want to believe then that's your prerogative.

[Terminal Boardom]

Thing is, how many years is it since English football clubs took to having a poppy on the shirts? Not many. No fuss made in 1983/84 regarding The Falklands nor in the early 1990s during the first Gulf War. Certainly not after we joined up with the US to remove the WMDs in Iraq. This poppy on shirts thing is a relatively new concept. Personally, I have no strong feelings either way. Just because I wear a poppy does not mean that every one else has to. Anyway, in a week or so, everyone will have forgotten about it and be focussing on shite like the pox factor on tv.

[Red]

Yeh it's weird how remembrance day seems to be growing in prominence.

Even the BBC weather forecast referred to today as "Armistice Day" which I'm sure they didn't do a few years ago.

Ultimately, for all the talk of "We will not forget", one day the world wars will have to pass into history, we don't still remember the fallen at every war since year dot.

Sorry if anyone feels I'm being disrespectful, that's not my intention.

[LUX]

no, but the wars in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan are still very much in our minds today. Sorry if I forgot any. The proceeds are obviously helping very few WW1 veterans and soon no WWII ones either, but the need remains.

[Bandini]

It's probably something of a positive that the further we get away from WWI, the more effort is made to remember it.

This morning on the Today show there were two long interviews with mothers who lost sons in Afghanistan in 2009, providing a useful reminder of the futility of it all.

[LUX]

futility of war or futility of that war?

[Bandini]

"It all", but I guess with an emphasis on the two wars mentioned.

[Red]

no, but the wars in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan are still very much in our minds today. Sorry if I forgot any. The proceeds are obviously helping very few WW1 veterans and soon no WWII ones either, but the need remains.

Very true.

Hopefully we'll never see another war where conscription is involved on such a massive scale though.

[leon]

no, but the wars in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan are still very much in our minds today. Sorry if I forgot any. The proceeds are obviously helping very few WW1 veterans and soon no WWII ones either, but the need remains.

Very true.

Hopefully we'll never see another war where conscription is involved on such a massive scale though.

Don't know about that - it would certainly improve AE.