The FA asked if England players could wear poppies. FIFA declined. No big deal. Now it's become a political football (sorry) for Cameron.

Not a phrase one gets to use too often.

They need to have a blanket ban on national paraphernalia such as poppies as not all of the 'icons' that some countries might use would be as inoffensive as the poppy.

Surely some nations symbols would offend other nations? Maybe the poppy offends some nations?

What if a right wing govt wanted there players to wear a swastika to 'celebrate' some made up national event?

Extreme example obviously

The wee poppy being visual has the potential to be divisive whereas bellowing out all those bloodthirsty national anthems before games: no problem.

didn't wear poppies for about 80 years following WW1, why is it suddenly now a huge deal?

....have done nothing wrong.
This is just another way for a country which hates itself to somehow claim a spurious moral high-ground which it cashed in at least forty years ago.

I didn't think it was possible to hate the England football team more than I did on Monday.
I was wrong.

Still, look on the bright side.....the tedious England game clashes with the rugby league.

is probably right, but abandoning the game?

There have been international matches where black players have been targeted by the home fans with constant racist abuse yet the game has carried on and the hosts have been given a slap on the wrist and a small fine.

Yet, wearing a poppy, that's a really serious offence.

I have commented on poppy wearing on the Poppycock thread, but this is all getting very, very silly. I think FIFA are right - this would open the doors to all sorts of stuff. My view is that it is a political symbol whether we like it or not - it shows we respect our war dead (which is fine by me), but there are others who disagree - ergo it is political.

What actual difference does it make...? We've never done this for the last hundred years or so, so why is it suddenly such a big issue to sew them into an England shirt?

and the England team walked out with poppies on their shirts, what would you do?

a) Say sod Fifa, let's get on with the game and never referee another international.

or

b) Follow Fifa instructions and call off the game, thus risk being lynched by 90,000 very angry people.

You'd certainly need some guts to plump for b).

the players donated their match fees to the appeal than wore one on their shirt. They can wear one on their tracksuit tops and have the same effect surely?

The new immigration.

The new distraction from the real news. The papers just loathe foreigners and will whip it all up because their job is to sell enough copies to damage enough braincells and lives to further their political and commercial interests.

Politicians will desperately want to tap into a subconscious national memory of us 'all being in it together'. Which we definitely and absolutely unquestionably are not.

... that the wearing of a poppy (simply a way of acknowledging that one is aware that people fought and died for this country) has now been hijacked by the xenophobic right-wing media prior to a "friendly" football match. FIFA is right in this instance, and it's shameful the way some of the media attempt to influence the public into believing this country is more special than other countries.

Just seen the EDL protest story.

Can't say I'm surprised - it was only a matter of time.

I can see both sides of this particular argument, as (I'm sure) can anyone with half a brain. I have my view, but I don't believe that anyone who disagrees is evil or "disrespecting our war dead".

It seems slightly despicable that both the papers and the Prime Minister are pretending that FIFA's position is "outrageous" to serve their own agendas. You might disagree with it, but it's clearly not outrageous, is it?

They're letting us have a minute's silence, wear black arm bands, put a poppy on the scoreboard, lay a wreath and god knows what else. They're not saying we shouldn't remember the dead, or reflect on the horrors of war and what others sacrificed for us. Their position is, at worst, disagreeable. It's not incomprehensible by any means and if David Cameron was in Sepp Blatter's shoes I have no doubt he'd reach exactly the same conclusion.

Given all of the above, it would be lovely if the Prime Minister would keep his oily little beak out of the issue and get on with doing his bl00dy job rather than chasing after this week's hot button issue.

If this is truly the most outrageous thing David Cameron has seen this month then I suggest he pays more attention at future international conferences, because compared to the Eurozone coming apart at the seams, Greece and Italy in danger of unravelling completely and the prospect of either a nuclear-armed Iran or another US military misadventure (depending on how you want to look at it) this really must be the most minor thing on his desk.

He might also want to reflect on whether his intervention and the hysteria which will undoubtedly follow is really an appropriate tribute to our war dead. What on earth happened to a bit of quiet dignity? So long as we have a minute's silence for respectful reflection and raise money for the British Legion et al, does anyone really, truly give a t0ss whether England's players (arguably the most dislikeable high profile group of people in the entire country) wear poppies on their shirts? Frankly, I'd rather John Terry disassociate himself from pretty much anything I believe in.

Starting to feel quite irritated by all this. Any news story where Rio Ferdinand is rapidly becoming the voice of reason is scary stuff indeed.

And exhale....

there was just remembrance sunday and a fine dignified affair it was too. Now, we have this ridiculous charade, Cameron should stay out of it - he has far more important issues to be getting on with - and the F.A should donate a portion of the gate takings to the British Legion, the players too if they sincerely feel so strongly. I believe the B.L would prefer the money rather then vainglorious posturing. FIFA are still arses though.

If the poppies are simply put on a player's shirt what does it represent? How do I know John Terry doesn't have the same respect for our war dead that he had for the 9/11 victims? I'd also have a great deal of sympathy for a player that would choose not to wear a poppy and is then forced into it.

All before you get to a universal rule FIFA have had in place for some time.

Much as I think they are usually wrong, nothing stopping the players turning up to the ground in suits and poppies or wearing them for post match where did it all go wrong interviews.

On the pitch I think FIFA are correct, what next symbolic wearing of mohawks or ceremonial daggers (OK, I exaggerate).

It annoys me more that such a big fuss is being made - basically not much positive is happening, the world (& UK) is in recession so let's use diversion tactics and go for an easy target such as FIFA.

As others have said, it's something which has previously been a personal choice rather than a necessary celebrity accessory. Yes it can be both, but forcing the issue surely misses the point.

As a compromise, FIFA has agreed that England players can sport armbands emblazoned with poppies.

can't our boys wear Pudsey Bear style bandages over one eye too? No? It's an outrage. Come on Cameron, weigh in.

Can't our boys dress up in It's A Knockout style animal costumes? David Cameron needs to get his finger out here.

David Walliams should be able to dress up as a woman and run around the pitch drawing attention to himself during the appropriately-timed international.

'Spirit Of The Blitz' fancy dress and have a right royal cockney barrel of monkeys knees up rahnd the old joanna - or they should be SHOT because they make me SICK with their DISRESPECT to our BRAVE BOYS - says drunken hack from the Express Group