FIFA, who are they exactly and who do they represent? They are like another EU, undemocratic and corrupt, I salute the Scots and English for sticking two fingers up to them, they don’t like us and I don’t really care for them and their ways of the World either.
But it’s OK for the Republic of Ireland to have a commemoration of the Easter uprising of 1916 on their shirts during a recent friendly with Switzerland…
Beyond the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, the Republic of Ireland hasn’t been involved in any war since its inception, famously sitting out what they called The Emergency.
I can see why Damian Collins MP has posed the question. On the surface, it smacks of hypocrisy and it’ll arouse those who think that everything the British have ever done is great. I’m sure Chapel End Charlie is outraged.
Under scrutiny, I’m not sure the complaint or comparison holds up. The only people the Irish have ever had a problem with is us, and just like then, it was complicated. They’ve never been to war while we’re still at it. Second, the Easter Rising was a one off commemoration of an event which led to the birth of a nation. The Irish team weren’t asking to celebrate it every year, as we do with poppies. Finally, the Easter Risings happened a century ago. The number of people left around that are personally affected is going to be low.
The situation in the south of Ireland is long settled. There are innocent people that could die tonight under British military direction.
Do we honestly expect the world to honour those war dead when the number of civilian casualties our actions have led to has been magnitudes higher?
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Got asked today why I’m not wearing a poppy.
I told the person that my respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice is personal and boundless.
My resentment / contempt for the politicians who make unjust / unnecessary war that our citizens end up fighting and dying for is public and also boundless.
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you should have said that people fought for your freedom to make your own decisions. And then called then a cunt.
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Pap you mong we don’t celebrate it, I suggest befre sputing off shite look inti the peace poppy as they have them there and also the lily, many republicans aren’t offended by the poppy either, just the extreme left are, I have seen with my own two eyes remembrance observed with dignity and respect in Cork (a highly republican City) by all, this is about honouring the dead from wars not the right and wrongs of them as all wars in a pure sense are wrong, Pap my child the World is greyer than you would like but thats the way it is.
I believe a minute silence is enough and maybe a black armband.
When I referee on the Sunday of Remembrance Sunday, I hold a 2 minute silence and wear a black armband. No Poppy or other items are allowed to be worn outside of the uniform as per normal. They are the rules and I receive an email outlining this the week leading up to the games.
I choose not to wear a poppy and that is my choice, but I do remember our heros from back then, right through to the present time.
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Fair point Fatstuff - as always you see through the bull and straight to the point…
I’ll try to do just that, as long as I’m not likely to lose my job
The problem is that football is a global game and other countries don’t share our view of the world and also have their own rememberance stuff . Remember our rememberance is now not just about the two world wars , but conflicts since . What would happen if we were playing the Argies , they wouldn’t want us wearing poppies to remember the guys whose sacrifice led to recapturing the Falklands . Other countries may want to wear a symbol of rememberance for wars that we consider " bad wars" , where the bad guy won . You could end up with some Balkan country remembering the dead in a conflict where they killed thousands of innocents . The wold wars are pretty unique in that even the losing sides accepted that good won and evil was defeated , but most other wars aren’t like that . Remembering your side will offend the other side . FIFA are Wong about a lot, but they’re right in this instance.
I also object to the dick waving " look how respectful I am " mentality we now have . Where people have to wear a poppy and wear in early and organisations tweet & post pictures ect of their " respects " . Why do we need poppies on our national teams kit anyway . Bobby Moore and Bally never did and they were pretty patriotic .guys.
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The right to remember people who have given thier lives for their Country should be open to all, Argentina invaded what was in effect Britain and also to divert discontent within Argentina as they were under a dictatorship and the economy was failing, maybe they could have a symbol for “the missing”?
Its only a so called global game as FIFA can buy cheap votes from poor Countries, you could bet your bollocks to a barndance this form democracy wouldn’t exist if it didn’t suit their agenda, Papa Blatter in Africa buying shirts and votes and all that, FIFA telling us what is right and wrong? Thats like taking ethics lessons from Stalin, they can get fucked, the Irish rightfully did it for whatever reason and so should we.
The Neville Chamberlains on here.
Against all my expectations, I find myself in full agreement with LD. Who’d have thunk it?
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For me the amazing display of poppies at The Tower of London was a far bigger statement that a few prima donnas wanting to wear rge poppy on their shirt when they play a football match. This spat will be forgotten five minutes after the match is over (unless FIFA dock us points) whereas the display will live on in the memory for years to come.
And as aside, now that May has stuck her hatchet-like nose into proceedings, is it just me or is she looking more like Thatcher each day?
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I choose not to wear a poppy, mainly for the reasons highlighted by others on this thread. I used to wear a white poppy, but there are so many dullards out there who have no idea what it means that it ended up being more trouble than it’s worth.
I also resent the modern obsession, perpetuated largely by dickhead politicians and the tabloids, with labelling people who don’t wear poppies as ‘disrespectful’ or ‘unpatriotic’. I find it ridiculous and a telltale sign of the slow of thinking that some people cannot understand why someone may choose not to wear one but still remember those who died as a result of all conflicts.
I kind of agree with FIFAs decision I’m afraid. Black armbands and a minute’s (or two’s) silence is enough for a show of respect and opportunity to remember.
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My mother in law keeps forwarding shit on FB from the far right. This time the post says if people dont like wearing poppies they should leave the country. Dontcha just love the poppy nazis?
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I don’t wear poppy because I am notorious tightwad. I also don’t remember ppl who died in conflict, but that is more cos I don’t know anyone who died in conflict, and it’s v.difficult to remember what you don’t know.
Two Countries want to wear a symbol that remembers their war dead that happens to be on the day of remembrance, fucking have a word, allowed it for rebels/freedom fighters in Ireland.
This is about control and having a fight with the home nations.
Does the poppy also remember when we thumped Braveheart? That is what I will be remembering.
America has had love it ot leave it for years and still people go there? I would assume you have to assimilate if you move to Saudi or adjust to what they want?
I know we’re indulged by the footballing authorities on account of being the inventors of the beautiful game and all that, but we’re not two countries. The 2014 referendum put a kibosh on that.
Beyond participation in Parliamentary votes, Scotland doesn’t get to decide whether it goes to war or not. There is no independent Declaration of War.
Shame, really. Not only might they have kept us out of a few scraps that we really shouldn’t have started, it might have been fun for Chamberlain’s grim announcement to have a north-of-the-border alternative. A Glaswegian hanging out of a Sauchiehall Street window flinging abuse, for example.