Is the poppy a political symbol?

Jimbuna · 11-01-16, 02:48 PM

As far as I'm concerned this further demonstrates how detached FIFA are from reality.

Quote:

Football's governing body, Fifa, has turned down a request from England and Scotland for players to wear armbands featuring poppies on Armistice Day, the Scottish Football Association says. Does the design really breach a ban on "political" symbols, asks Stephen Fottrell.
The poppy is worn every November to commemorate members of the armed forces who gave their lives in war, and British sports teams have traditionally joined in by adding a poppy to their kit.
The English and Scottish football associations had hoped to get permission for their players to wear poppies on their shirts during their World Cup qualifier on Armistice Day (11 November).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37834224

Platapus · 11-01-16, 03:46 PM

I guess the poppy is a political symbol when enough people choose to make it a political symbol.

It is not like there is some international definition of what is and ain't a political symbol.

If FIFA rules prohibit political, religious, or commercial messages on shirts and they equally and fairly enforce these rules, then I don't see a problem.

It is my understanding that some feel that there is undue social pressure to wear the poppies, which kinda defeats and perverts the whole idea. That sort of pressure elevates the poppy wearing into being a political symbol.

In the US, it is similar to being pressured to wear an American Flag pin.

But that aside, if that is what FIFA rules state, then they need to follow them. I seriously doubt that any team will win or lose a match dependent on if they are wearing or not wearing a specific patch on their uniforms.

mapuc · 11-01-16, 05:30 PM

The American Olympic team was allowed to carry the Flag from 9/11 into the stadium at the opening ceremony

So why shouldn't football team from England and Scotland not be allowed to carry these armbands

It's only for 90+ minutes and only for this day 11th November.

Markus

Platapus · 11-01-16, 06:00 PM

Not to sound snarky but one was the Olympics and the other is FIFA.

Also one was a flag and the other is a patch worn on the uniform.

Different dudes different rules.

em2nought · 11-01-16, 06:44 PM

Who wants to go reminding everyone that stupid actions in some little backwater can quickly spin out of control?

What a dumb lesson to try and learn.

Oberon · 11-01-16, 08:49 PM

There does seem to be a bit of a danger of the poppy becoming some sort of religious symbol, such is the reverence put towards it. In small doses that's good, it's good to remember the sacrifices made...but it does no good to start using that symbol to create division, to cast aspersion or to rank people based upon their adherence to the dress-code and behavior surrounding Remembrance day.
It's like how hostile some people can be to the White Poppy movement, whose desires and goals are not that dissimilar to those of the Red Poppies, but that touches on the whole concept of the 'Just war' which is...difficult...

Aktungbby · 11-03-16, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapuc

The American Olympic team was allowed to carry the Flag from 9/11 into the stadium at the opening ceremony

So why shouldn't football team from England and Scotland not be allowed to carry these armbands

It's only for 90+ minutes and only for this day 11th November.

Markus

Wear the poppy! And 'take a Knee' in protest for anything....political!

11-01-16, 03:46 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,381 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	I guess the poppy is a political symbol when enough people choose to make it a political symbol. It is not like there is some international definition of what is and ain't a political symbol. If FIFA rules prohibit political, religious, or commercial messages on shirts and they equally and fairly enforce these rules, then I don't see a problem. It is my understanding that some feel that there is undue social pressure to wear the poppies, which kinda defeats and perverts the whole idea. That sort of pressure elevates the poppy wearing into being a political symbol. In the US, it is similar to being pressured to wear an American Flag pin. But that aside, if that is what FIFA rules state, then they need to follow them. I seriously doubt that any team will win or lose a match dependent on if they are wearing or not wearing a specific patch on their uniforms. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-01-16, 06:00 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,381 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Not to sound snarky but one was the Olympics and the other is FIFA. Also one was a flag and the other is a patch worn on the uniform. Different dudes different rules. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-01-16, 06:44 PM	#5
em2nought Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,485 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Who wants to go reminding everyone that stupid actions in some little backwater can quickly spin out of control? What a dumb lesson to try and learn. __________________ em2nought is ecstatic garbage!

11-01-16, 05:30 PM	#3
mapuc CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 20,543 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	The American Olympic team was allowed to carry the Flag from 9/11 into the stadium at the opening ceremony So why shouldn't football team from England and Scotland not be allowed to carry these armbands It's only for 90+ minutes and only for this day 11th November. Markus

11-01-16, 08:49 PM	#6
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	There does seem to be a bit of a danger of the poppy becoming some sort of religious symbol, such is the reverence put towards it. In small doses that's good, it's good to remember the sacrifices made...but it does no good to start using that symbol to create division, to cast aspersion or to rank people based upon their adherence to the dress-code and behavior surrounding Remembrance day. It's like how hostile some people can be to the White Poppy movement, whose desires and goals are not that dissimilar to those of the Red Poppies, but that touches on the whole concept of the 'Just war' which is...difficult...