FIFA agree to England team wearing Poppy on black armband

The England’s friendly against the world champions Spain on Saturday is set to go ahead after FIFA has confirmed to FA that players can wear the poppy on the black armband. Yesterday the world football governing body rejected FA’s and Sports minster Hugh Robertson’s request and also gave referee the order to call off the match if players wear poppy as an emblem in their kit.

“The FA can confirm that FIFA has today agreed that the England team will now be permitted to wear a poppy on the black armbands the players will wear during Saturday’s match with Spain. While continuing to adhere to the Laws of the Game, wearing the poppy on the armband does ensure the poppy will be visible throughout the game.The FA welcomes FIFA’s decision and thanks them for agreeing to this”, an FA statement said

Earlier in the day the Prime Minister David Cameroon had called FIFA’s decision as ‘outrageous’, while two members of the English Defence League put up a banner in the headquarters of FIFA which read “How dare FIFA disrespect our war dead and wounded.”