FIFA banning poppies

[Prevenger17]

The McClean thing is a personal decision which is down to his personal views and politics, and if he chooses not to wear it that's fine by me.

A lot of us think that way, but there's an undeniable hoo-ha every year he decides not to wear one.

 

[tommye]

Fine by me.

Politics should be kept out of sport.

And allowing one set of belligerents in a war to display emblems commemorating it when half the countries playing in the European section of the competition were the other belligerents serves no useful purpose IMO.

Just let the games proceed without artificial controversy being created.


As an aside, Tommy.....you call for people to "keep it civil" yet your opening paragraph is quite partisan and practically invites uncivil responses

 

[Prevenger17]

It's even got me on my high horse. A doff of the cap to a fine fishing expedition

 

[BlueLlama]

A lot of us think that way, but there's an undeniable hoo-ha every year he decides not to wear one.

Perhaps he could wear a green one? Being held by a leprechaun

 

[Prevenger17]

Perhaps he could wear a green one? Being held by a leprechaun

Or a peeled cross-section of a potato?

 

[tommye]

It's even got me on my high horse. A doff of the cap to a fine fishing expedition

 

[davek]

In fact, our club sides shouldn't be forced to wear poppies. It never happened before a few years ago and it started with right newspaper campaigns which hounded the PL into advising clubs to wear them.

Our football has been politicised in recent years and we shoulndt have remembrance days theatre on our pitch every season. I don't agree with it and I'm sure I'm not alone in that. Our forefathers who supported the club never clamoured for it, so does that make them unpatriotic or uncaring? Many of those had fought in that war and wouldn't have wanted it - or certainly not given a flying one if we ever had a Remembrance Day pre game event.

 

[The Cowboy]

To me, the poppy now represents the fundraising activities of the Royal British Legion.

And I find that intensely sad, and wrong.

WRONG, because I feel that central Government should provide ALL the funds required to help those soldiers/ex-soldiers, not the ordinary members of the public... It was central Government who sent them to war in the first place.

I see central Government's lack of providing total after-care for those they have sent in the first place as a total abrogation of responsibility.

Well, perhaps that's the right idea in days of conscription, but you could also argue that they joined the army willingly and got hurt doing their job, and their employer should sort them out.

It becomes intensely difficult when you have wars we shouldn't be participating in, then having the taxpayer foot the bill for those hurt in said wars, when you've got thousands protesting our participation in said wars.

 

[flippa]

I agree with @davek that club sides (and more specifically, the players) shouldn't be forced to wear poppies; like anything you choose to acknowledge/ pay respect to, it should be a personal thing, rather than something forced upon you- which is meaningless anyway. And I don't see the players being forced to consider wearing/ not wearing a pink ribbon in October, or a Red Ribbon on December 1st, or grow 'taches in November, so why a poppy?

I personally choose to wear a poppy out of respect for (all) those who have died in the absurdity of war, as I respect those who have given up their lives doing what they thought was right. However, I also respect the rights of others to reject wearing a poppy for their own feelings about war. Just a shame that FIFA feel like they have to dictate on this, but perhaps it is to make players feel less uncomfortable with perhaps being forced to express private opinions publically?

 

[Ernie]

Make all the England players get a poppy tattooed on there face

 

[Old Blue 2]

Well, perhaps that's the right idea in days of conscription, but you could also argue that they joined the army willingly and got hurt doing their job, and their employer should sort them out.

It becomes intensely difficult when you have wars we shouldn't be participating in, then having the taxpayer foot the bill for those hurt in said wars, when you've got thousands protesting our participation in said wars.

Good points, Cowboy. Cannot disagree with either paragraph.

I simply believe responsibility does not end at the point of injury/wounding. And that after-care, whatever it may be, and whatever funding may be required, rests centrally, not individually with members of the public putting their hands in their pockets once a year.

 

[coollino]

Proper #respect here

 

[The Cowboy]

Good points, Cowboy. Cannot disagree with either paragraph.

I simply believe responsibility does not end at the point of injury/wounding. And that after-care, whatever it may be, and whatever funding may be required, rests centrally, not individually with members of the public putting their hands in their pockets once a year.

Somewhere in the middle, I suppose. It's hard to feel fine about your tax money going on the rehab of folk participating in wars you fundamentally disagree with.

 

[bluebrotha77]

Perhaps he could wear a green one? Being held by a leprechaun

He could wear his easter lily all year round.sorted

 

[squonk]

bottom line is that it is not disrespectful not to wear one and neither should it be forced on anyone.