Football: FIFA fines teams for 'political' poppy symbol

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – World football’s governing body FIFA fined England and Scotland on Monday for allowing their teams to wear an armband engraved with a poppy symbol during a World Cup qualifying game played on Nov.16.

According to the decision by FIFA, the England Football Association is to pay a fine of CHF45,000 ($43,500) for the poppy display and for several cases of spectator misconduct.

The Scottish Football Association has also been ordered to pay a total fine of CHF20,000 for the poppy display.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee chairman Claudio Sulser said he "fully respected" the commemorations but underlined the rules "need to be applied to all member associations".

The poppy symbol is worn and displayed in the U.K. and Commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia to commemorate soldiers killed in conflicts, particularly the First and Second World Wars.

Sulser added: "The display, among others, of any political or religious symbol is strictly prohibited…In the stadium and on the pitch, there is only room for sport, nothing else."

The Welsh and Northern Irish football associations were also fined by FIFA for similar displays; CHF 20,000 and CHF15,000 respectively.

FIFA also fined the Football Association of Ireland CHF5,000 for allowing its players to wear a shirt commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule during a friendly game earlier this year.