Wear your Poppy with Pride, Shame on you FIFA, Shame on you!!

The Arsenal can boast about having many many supporters from every corner of the world and this next part of the post may or may not be of interest to you so I will apologise in advance, but for me this is very important.

I know this has been in the press over the last few days as the eleventh day is here and the eleventh hour is almost upon us and it just so happens of course  that England face Spain tomororrow night in another stupid international friendly.

In recognition of today, last weekend most English Football Clubs, and we were no exception, donned their Poppy shirts and together with all fans, respected a period of silence prior to kick off in memory of all the war heroes who had lost their lives in battle whilst serving their country.

We can do it, but England can't.....

However, the England Team had been refused to mark the occassion in the same way, shame on FIFA.

Poppy wearing on our national shirt has been frowned on by many, something which I find very wrong.

The reason we wear Poppies in England is to honour our fallen during conflicts around the world.

It’s our way of showing the world that we respect the servicemen and women that have died as a result of serving their country, as a means to keep the rest of the population free from foreign domination.

I want to make it clear that i’m against war of any kind, I would rather see leaders of  the countries involved find a solution rather than letting become a situation where we end up killing one another. Having said that, not everything seems to have a solution that suits both parties.

I have no idea to this day why our forces have been deployed in The Middle East but what I do know is that we are told that it is to try and stamp out terrorism which has happened in certain places around the world. Many of you will probably know a lot more than me but that doesn’t excuse killing one another in my mind.

I wouldn’t particularly like  foreign troops coming over here and telling us how we should be conducting ourselves and in the process killing masses of Englishmen, so I would guess that the people in the Middle East probably feel the same.

Our leaders tell us that we are trying to liberate the people from these countries from tyrants and dictators, to try and give these people freedom to live their lives how they want but in my eyes if those people actually wanted change, they would fight for that themselves?

Sure there must be more of them than there are against them? However, I believe its more about other things like oil, than it is people.

Whatever the reasons, I still see the wearing of a poppy on an England shirt as a form of respect, the men and women who joined these services as a profession, many never  have expected to kill people, they joined because they wanted a good career.

The troops are similar to our football stars, they have to go to places where they are told to go, a lot of them may not relish the journey across the world but that is their job, granted our players don’t have to shoot at anybody accept goalkeepers of course so that is where the similarities end.

Many footballers wear black armbands when a comrade has died and respect a minutes silence as way of respect for the loss and wearing a Poppy is the same thing but on a wider scale.  It covers many lives that have been lost over the years, not just the two world wars against Germany but for the lives that have been lost during conflict since.

It’s a tradition that should never been lost, the British public must always be reminded of these tragedies and hopefully in the future the leaders of these countries will find solutions other than killing one another.

FIFA had stopped the England national football side from displaying the Poppy, period, but Prince William is reported to have been the man to step in and voice the concerns of the nation and FIFA have kind of back tracked.

Still no Poppy on the shirts but players, including our own Theo Walcott have had the Poppy embeded on their boots and the England side will now be ‘permitted’ to wear balck armbands with the Poppy embeded on it….

What a farce and what has been said and written so many times, I will write again…

Shame on you FIFA! Shame on you!

Wear your Poppy with pride I say…….

Written by Steve Palmer

135 thoughts on “Wear your Poppy with Pride, Shame on you FIFA, Shame on you!!

  1. allezkev says:

    Morning Rico….
    Just a question, have Le Grove come off of WordPress?
    Gotta say it looks a bit different over there.
    Off to read the post.

  2. TT says:

    It’s a bit odd,FIFA banning them wearing poppy’s, when all the club teams do and most of them have English players in minority. And I have not heard one of those foreign players complain about a political statement being made by the wearing the poppy!

  3. rico says:

    Thanks Gooner1, try taking your comment to the England team, I think they would disagree… Anyway, you won’t be leaving your comment here…

  4. allezkev says:

    10 out 10 StevieP. Another top post amigo.
    Morning Gooners.

    FIFA…. are we really suprised..?
    If there some way those bent-bastards could make money out of it, we’ve poppies all over the place.

  5. rico says:

    TT – most countries are in supprt I think, in particular Germany, regardless of what went/goes on between different countries, lives are still lost and families are left heartbroken…

  6. TT says:

    A German of course but in this case I’m not sure it’s coming from him as much as some of the other board members. German FA is in favor of the poppy’s and so is every European FA that I have heard commenting on the issue.

  7. rico says:

    I didn’t realise it was a German TT, and that makes it even worse as you say, they are in favour… Its just another f**k up by FIFA….

  8. stevepalmer1 says:

    Many thanks for all of your comments, and thank you rico for making the post readable, we are coming up to the hour of remembrance no doubt Sep Blatter will be looking at his Bank account statement but to be honest i couldn’t give a shit, but i must say that the Football Ascociation should be ashamed very ashamed to be ruled by Fifa is an insult to their and our inteligence, we should pull our players out of Saturdays friendly as a protest our future king has gone on bended knee’s to FiFa for a second time and has been snubbed and the FA stand by and do nothing, useless utterly useless.

  9. rico says:

    Hi SteveP, makes me very angry – I think that is a good idea too, and I bet a few other countries would support us, however, the FA no doubt would be toothless and not ever consider such action as no doubt they too would be county the pennies….

  10. stevepalmer1 says:

    chilvalry is dead Rico British traditions are going quicker than the troops, a toothless government coupled with blind ascociations are going to be our downfall, While it still matters to many it will continue to be a thorn in the side of many.

  11. Potter says:

    Blatter Is Swiss I believe.

    Remember they were apparently neutral during the War and apart from filling their secret bank accounts they did little else. Seems dear old Sepp is keeping up the family traditions.

  12. MikeB says:

    Morning all, and thanks Steve,

    nice to see a little diversity in the post, and I echo your sentiments.

    If anyone honestly believes this has nothing to do with the fall-out from our failed WC bid, they’re deluding themselves.

    This is entirely political, and shameful, but until other main-stream European nations stop self-serving and look at the wider implications of Blatter and his ‘mafia tactics’ we have no choice but to fight Fifa’s corruption and injustice alone.

    Be marvelous if someone did manage to coordinate some serious Euro-wide resistance to these money-grabbing bankers, who seem to treat the home of football and democracy as a place fit only for pariahs.

    But I guess that would require the F.A. to grow a pair.

  13. devilgunner says:

    Morning guys and chicks.

    Although here in Malta we still do poppy day it is something that people like me find it difficult to understand since we have no one who has died in war. However, I do understand that others want to remember the day and I do respect it. The problem starts when someone tries to play the big brother, in our case the FIFA. But I fear that it is someone without balls who tries to hide behind Fifa who has started all this.

    50 years from now on, if this is allowed to go on, no one will remember anything.

    Morning AK. how’s you doing??

    Morning Rico…..did you get my email??

  14. rico says:

    I know Steve, sad state of affairs but that sadly is the way the world is going…..

    Hi Potter – Wonder what Platini thinks of it all – best I don’t go down that route…..

    Think I better stick to footie 😉

  15. Micko says:

    Well said steve, wear your poppy with pride, the poppy is a symbol of remembrance and respect, something fifa have very little of.

    And good luck to ireland this evening, they’re gonna need it.

  16. rico says:

    Morning MikeB – i gues none of us know for sure whether the WC bid has anything to do with their decision but i can see why you suspect that…

    Hi DG, I did get your email thank you, it will be up in the next few days and i’m looking forward to reading it 🙂

  17. devilgunner says:

    Blatter, Platini and co are more concerned with votes. So if someone asks them to remove the poppies otherwise no vote they get on with it and remove the poppy day. Ohterwise they will loose votes

  18. rico says:

    It’s about time PHW hung up his boots, i’m sure he only talks after a couple of shandies…. Mind you, that could be anytime of day 😉

    Estonia away, Ireland will win 2-1 🙂

  19. stevepalmer1 says:

    Devil, it sounds like your country have got it right, i appreciate your sentiments, and lets hope warring countries will see sense in the end.

  20. Potter says:

    I think P.H.W was the original disgusted of Tunbridge Wells then he got he got a regular gig in the Daily Mail as guest doo lally writer.

  21. devilgunner says:

    Up till now it has been celebrated. And as I told you people like me although we might not understand we do respect it. However, and this is a big HOWEVER, the more that new generations come in the more difficult it is to keep since they have no attachment to it. Grandpa was a soldier with the British Forces stationed here and he survived. But my son has never seen anyone from the family with the army so he cannot comprehend what war and its consequences mean. And that is the barrier created by time and new generations.

  22. rico says:

    😆 DG…..

    I wonder if he actually knows what goes on at the club anymore? I don’t for one minute believe what he has said about RvP….

  23. devilgunner says:

    Now why cant I be the chairman of AFC??? Sometimes I wonder why life smiles cruelly at us.

    At the club where I coach we have around 335 kids between 6 years and 18 years. Loads of them between 6 and 13 but then we start filtering them. And I am there nearly everyday. Nothing escapes my watchful eyes. And I am just one of the staff. Imagine if I were the chairman.

  24. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Good Morning
    Blater is switzerland.
    A different content of the “traditional” post. I’m agree with it.
    yes, Barcelona is interesting in Bale.
    “Arsenal news” in daily european newspapers:
    Arsene Wenger leaves a message on the Man United game for the Champions League, 22 days at Old Trafford. He says he was impressed with the Eusebio Cup embodied in
    The warning is to take into account: Arsene Wenger, Arsenal made ​​a serious warning to the counterpart Alex Ferguson over Benfica.
    “Manchester United should be careful with Benfica. I got a great impression on them and I think that might surprise, “said the coach of 62 years, Eurosport.
    The analysis of the French coach, at the helm of the Gunners since 1996, is substantiated by the particular game that Londoners held against Benfica on 6 August for the Eusebio Cup by Arsenal scored the first goal (Van Persie 33 ), but the team of Jorge Jesus made the turnaround, with goals from Pablo Aimar (49) and Nolita (60).
    Benfica will face the Red Devils in 22 days at Old Trafford, counts towards the 5. Matchday Group C Champions League. The embodiment are tied with Manchester United, with eight points, and the clearance of the two teams may be defined in case of victory.
    The tie can also serve for the reds, if this is the outcome of the Basel-Otelul Galati – to determine the Benfica at Old Trafford will give the same result if the Swiss, in Romania.
    The only praise from Wenger confirms the detailed shape how Londoners are watching Benfica and some of his players. In recent days, the national Spanish radio Cadena SER realized the interest of Arsenal in Javi Garcia.

  25. rico says:

    Hi JM,

    I hope Benfica cause a shock and Manure end up second in their group, then maybe they can draw Barcelona for a change….

  26. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Arsenal are interested in hiring Tongo Hamed Doumbia, average 22 years of French Rennes, advances this Friday the British media.
    Arsene Wenger, coach of the gunners, the contest aims to ensure the footballer, who already follows a long time, in January 2012, at the reopening of the transfer market.
    Doumbia, which measures 1 meter and 93 centimeters, can play center and right and is valued at 8 million pounds (9.3 million euros).

  27. rico says:

    From Wikki

    Tongo Hamed Doumbia (born 6 August 1989 in Vernon[3]) is a French footballer who currently plays for Ligue 1 club Rennes.[4]
    [edit] Career

    Doumbia began his career 1999 with Olympique Noisy-le-Sec, he joined after one year in summer 2000 to city rival JS Noisy-le-Sec and turned in July 2001 back to Olympique Noisy-le-Sec. He played now for one year on youthside for Olympique Noisy-le-Sec and signed in June 2002 for FC Les Lilas. He played three successful years for FC Les Lilas, before signed in January 2006 for RSC Montreuil, he presented Montreuil two years and signed in summer 2007 an contract with Ligue 2 club LB Châteauroux.[5] He played for the reserve team of LB Châteauroux and played his only profi game on 20 February 2009 against EA Guingamp.[6] After two years with LB Châteauroux left Doumbia the club to sign on 19 June 2009 for Rennes[7] who earned his debut for team in the Coupe de la Ligue against FC Sochaux on 23 September 2009.[8]

  28. AJM says:

    I think it is a disgrace that you refer to Britain as ‘Englishmen’…If you really want to remember those who fought and died for our country, I think you can do it without a poppy if you really care…

  29. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Gooners
    Hi Rico & JM.
    Hiya DG…. We’re all good up here in the chilly north.
    Send us some of your sunshine… 😉

  30. allezkev says:

    Aguero’ s done his groin eh Rico….? Shame. 😀
    Where did you see that about RVP?
    And check your in box. 😉

  31. devilgunner says:

    Sunshine???? Here its not that sunshine. Only a fair bit of sun. Otherwise its showers, especially for the weekend.

    Good to see you are ok mon ami!!!

  32. allezkev says:

    Hey Kif Int DG.
    During the war, Malta was a major submarine base for the Royal Navy.
    Our subs crippled the supply lines to Gen’ Rommel’s Afrika Korps.
    A major part in the ultimate victory in North Africa.
    That’s why the Italians & the Luftwaffe pounded the life outta Malta.

  33. devilgunner says:

    I am ok AK. The little one’s going to the GP for a flu jab in an hour’s time so I expect fireworks and my strength tested to the limit by his flailing arms.

    Then its off to training. And that means I will be knackered

  34. allezkev says:

    I’m off up to gym in awhile DG.
    Btw, did anyone notice the lack of EPL players in the England U.21’s yesterday?

  35. devilgunner says:

    Oui. I did. Infact I was searching wikipedia to see from were some of the players come. Watford, Leeds, Leicester. Not premiership quality are they??? But with the new rule abolishing the 90 minute situation we might see more of these at premiership level now.

  36. devilgunner says:

    cu mates. Off to wrestle with a 7 year old kid for a flu jab. The pity is I will not be getting paid for it. But having to pay. GRRRRRRRR

  37. oliver says:

    morning all…great post steve. we also wear/display poppies to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for country, although that is normally on memorial day (last sunday in may). today is veteran’s day here, and while i am at work, all government and many private agencies have today off – i cannot characterize dc as a ghost town today, but the drive in this morning was far, far easier than normal.

    it’s a shame that symbols such as the poppy and the yellow ribbon get so badly politicized, but that is the world we live in…

    i note phw’s comments about contract talks with robin now being deferred until the summer. so robin is becoming arsenal’s jose reyes, it seems…reyes is now a free-agent and attracting plenty of interest from other teams.

  38. rico says:

    What annoys me most about PHW, if the story is true and RvP wants to wait until the summer to sort out his contract, why does he need to tell the world??

    All he has suceeded in doing is feeding the gutter press another story and with it all the follow up about which club is now going to sign him….

    Why can’t he keep his big fat choppers shut!

  39. rico says:

    AK, in answer to your earlier, I don’t think the guy from Rennes has been called up yet for his country

    if he ever does, wouldn’t it be for France?

  40. oliver says:

    hi rico…i suspect the story is true, and that robin’s people may have told the club that they want to concentrate on playing this season and worry about negotiations afterwards…why? to see how this season plays out and for robin to decide if he should commit or not. that is why i made the reyes comparison – earlier this year, jose’s people told sandy they did not want to negotiate a new contract until after the season ended. sandy went public with it, essentially to show the fanbase the team wanted to get a new deal done now, but the player did not want to talk yet…i suspect something similar is at play at arsenal…

    in my opinion, phw is an obnoxious, irritating windbag…but he has value to the arsenal board – because of his record of speaking out of turn and making outlandish statements, they can use him to deliver messages that they may later have to disassociate themselves from…if phw’s statements elicit a backlash from robin’s camp, to the effect that they never said these things, arsenal can turn around and say, well the old boy was speaking out of turn again…don’t worry about it, you know how he is…and while we are on the subject, what terms is robin looking for in a new deal?

    phw is here to say the things that gazidis and others want to get into the public domain, but can’t say themselves…as long as he is here, they can deny his statements if they need to…there was one just this past spring, if i remember, where the club immediately came out and refuted him…

    this robin situation will be painful for us while it drags on, but i don’t expect his loyalty to us to extend to the point where he commits himself to long term deal while harboring doubts about whether we will be able to consistently compete for the top prizes.

  41. oliver says:

    hi rico…been away again, for most of this week. i wasn’t around for wbrom on the weekend – didn’t even get to see it – so i couldn’t do a report…

  42. oliver says:

    the phw statement the club refuted had to do with the ast…it took me a few minutes to recall it, but i remember that the group questioned something (i think it was related to the ticket price increase announcement) and phw came out and said, more or less, that club cooperation and dialogue with supporters groups should not be taken for granted. the club waited a day and then issued a statement about how they value supporter input, how they are an important part of the club, adn how communication will remain open…

    i don’t believe for an instant that phw’s statement was not sanctioned by the board. I think sending him out to say that was the board’s way of registering their displeasure at the ast calling them out…by having phw deliver that message, they were able to then contradict him. because our chairman is who he is, nobody we be suprised at our club doing damage control following another of his condescending, ill-advised statements.

  43. rico says:

    I guessed you had been busy oliver, what do you make about Brek Shea joining Arsenal for out of season training??

    Afternoon all,,,

  44. rico says:

    Re your comment about RvP, i think it’s more about seeing who we sign and what ambition the club show – two good signings in Jan will make that loud and clear, as would another 2 or 3 in the summer….

    One of those signings must be a goal scorer, take a bit of pressure off of him…

  45. oliver says:

    shea? to me, he is no different than any other young trainee we get. i am averse to over-hyping kids…besides, we don’t own his rights or anything, he is just joinining us to train…th did it last season, and i think beckham did it with the spuddies, didn’t he?

    i am sure what we do in the transfer market will have some bearing on his decision. i think how we do, and how close we come wil have aa lot more bearing. he’s going to look at this as a business decision – i don’t think that his professed love for the club will prevent him from not signing if he feels the club is no so ambitious, or not capable of credibly challenging for the top titles.

  46. EastSidePaul says:

    Evening everyone! Big match tonight! ;).
    No contract until the summer… we’ve all heard that one before.

  47. rico says:

    I just wondered if you had hear much about Shea oliver in the States?

    I don’t think he’s that young is he, 21 i think..

  48. oliver says:

    actually, i had not previously heard of him…not until the announcement he would come over to arsenal for training. the little i know is that he plays for dallas and comes to train with us on klinsmann’s recommendation…even his training cameos probably won’t tell us that much about him…certainly they will give arsene and our staff an idea of whether they want to pursue signing him, but i don’t think supporters such as us will learn that much. my bottom line is that is a nice opportunity for the player, but nothing – yet – for us to really get excited over.

  49. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening all,
    As you say Oliver Traditions are a part of our make up, all countries have them and its not for me to say whats right or wrong, but if the USA or Africa want to wave their flag i find that normal if they want to tie a ribbon i understand the sentiments and if they wanted to wear whatever on their shirt for reasons of respect i would see that as a good thing. For us to ask permision to do this is an insult to the people of the United Kingdom. The Football Ascociation and the Government should never ever back down or ask permision, Everybody knows the reasons and that should be it, resorting to wearing the poppy on your boots or hidden on a armband makes me feel as if they don’t think it should be shown. At the going down of the sun we will remember them.

    by the way welcome back.

  50. rico says:

    No more that we know here then oliver, he maybe playing for the reserves whilst he is with the club, however, i wouldn’t be surprised if the majority shareholder has a lot to do with this and we will soon see him in red and white in the future….

  51. oliver says:

    afternoon steve. i think fifa is losing sight of the bigger picture here. yes, tomorrow’s friendly match falls under their jurisdiction. and yes, they have many different sponsors, some of who (why, i wouldn’t know) object to the england team wearing poppies on their kits. but this is not some whim – its done to commemorate remembrance day, and england is not the only nation that has adopted the poppy as a symbol of this. this is to honor those who fought and gave their lives for their country. fifa should remember this – the best thing they can do is allow nations who so choose to wear the poppy on their kits during the match that falls closest to november eleventh, within a span of a few weeks. that way it will be understood, and there will not be any more bitterness or yes-we-will, no-you-won’t debate…

  52. oliver says:

    only thing, rico, is that shea plays for fc dallas, wheras kroenke owns the colorado rapids…with my limited understanding of this, klinsmann (u.s. national team coach) is the one who initiated this, not kroenke, or anyone at fc dallas. remember klinsmann played for arsene at as monaco, as there has apparently been a strong bond between the two.

    so it may be more of an issue of klinsmann looking for shea to get the best possible coaching with a view to developing him for the u.s. national squad, not necessarily trying to engineer a transfer to afc…

    from arsenal’s standpoint, we invite a highly regarded young u.s. player over to train. i imagine arsene and the staff may be looking at this as a trial of sorts, and if shea impresses, perhaps there will be an effort to sign him in the not-too-distant future. no lose in this one. if he impresses and arsene thinks he is worth the investment, then i am sure we will pursue him. if he does not impress, then he goes back home to the metroplex at the end of the specified period, and that is that.

  53. rico says:

    i understand what you are saying oliver but i am surprised that klinsman didn’t recommend him going to our neighbours… call me an old cynic but i still think stan has a lot to do with this….

    We have recently signed Park for the asia publicity, and I honestly believe that the club now are going to the States….

    Mind you, I don’t give toot if the players are good 😉

  54. oliver says:

    rico, i agree that we are raising our profile in both places…we have to, or we will be left behind. gazidis has spoke of it, and arsene just recently said he thought more and more world class players will come out of the usa and far east, so this certainly ties with it.

    i am just not sure kroenke had much to do with it. perhaps he did…as for klinsmann recommending shea to spurs…the usa coach may have links (as a player) to that part of north london, but where do you think shea is likely to get the better coaching, with harry or arsene? i am guessing klinsmann is looking at this as an opportunity for shea to get a level of coaching possibly not available anywhere in the mls…or at whl, for that matter…

  55. rico says:

    Ha ha oliver, you don’t need me to answer that about where I believe Shea would get the better coaching….

    I bet Arry would think otherwise though 😉

  56. allezkev says:

    Well i’ve seen a bit of Shea on You-Tube, and yes, you could make Denilson look a world beater on that medium, but he wouldn’t be coming to the Arse if he was a donkey.
    And he looked ok to me!

    Btw Oliver, do you have any idea which EPL club gets the most interest on-line in the US of A and where Arsenal are in the standings?

  57. oliver says:

    kev, not sure who gets the most run over here. i know that man united and chelsea always draw well when they tour here…i think there are a fair amount of arsenal supporters here, but considering the aforementioned two teams have won the last seven league titles between the two of them, i imagine that they have more of a following. man united i can understand, but there is no way chelsea should have a larger following – if they actually do – over here than we do…

  58. allezkev says:

    Then again, i channel hop when i’m working, a few minutes of Talkshite and i’m usually retuning to five live.
    As for the links, i just look to see if there’s anything of interest.
    But not if it’s anti-Arsenal.

  59. allezkev says:

    Tbh, i haven’t yet listened to the Oxo link.
    Was it rubbish then?
    i’ve got some music from U-tube on my earphones.
    The soaps are on, you’ll understand… 🙄

  60. allezkev says:

    Ok Oliver, i was just wondering, as their seems to be quite a few USA/Canada generated blogs, so i kinda assumed that their must be a lot of interest from the folks on your side of the stream…

  61. allezkev says:

    A snippet from ACLF, apparantly Wenger has phoned the Dutch manager, and he’s agreed to use RVP in tonights Swiss game, but will rest him in the next game [Germany].
    Lets hope he’s true to his word…

  62. rico says:

    They have kev, they have gone posh, i emailed pedro and told him 😉 I think LG is going places… the site is looking really good….

  63. rico says:

    😆 re the soaps, they are recording here and soon off to watch and then we can skip the Ads….

    I bloomin hope thats right re RvP Kev

  64. oliver says:

    szczesny, kos, rosicky and arsh are all starting for their respective countries…mert and fabianski are on their respective benches.

  65. oliver says:

    not so worried if balotelli scores against poland. just want szcz/fab to keep him and his team-mates out when we meet in the league cup at the end of the month…

    we all hear those sickening chants arsene is subjected to when we visit other grounds…events this week remind me how glad i am that despite that filth, we don’t have problem like jerry sandusky at our club…

  66. oliver says:

    later kev…traffic will be light…but the cops will be out in force starting today…always are for the long weekends.

  67. rico says:

    Nighty kev – be good…

    I’m not fussed about the internationals, so i’m heading off for the day too, but I do hope ireland win their match as it matters for the boys who come on here…

    Nighty night all, catch up tomorrow…

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