FA seeks unity for Armistice Day tribute

Nov 1, 2016 - 8:37 PM The Football Association remains optimistic that a compromise can be reached with FIFA that will allow players from England and Scotland to wear poppies on armbands during next week's World Cup qualifier on Armistice Day.

FIFA's law four, which governs players' equipment, states that commercial, political or religious messages are banned from shirts.

But with the Wembley clash scheduled for November 11, the English and Scottish FAs have been in talks with FIFA for some weeks about repeating the compromise that was reached in 2011 - when England, Scotland and Wales played with poppies on armbands.

The Welsh FA has also written to FIFA asking for permission to wear poppies on armbands during their game against Serbia in Cardiff on November 12.

So far, the only official response from world football's governing body has been a letter signed by FIFA's general secretary Fatma Samoura that "drew attention to law four" - before saying that does not necessarily mean there will be sanctions for flouting the law.

The Home Nations, however, have asked for clarification on this and are expected to meet a senior delegation from FIFA in London on Wednesday night ahead of Thursday's meeting of the International Football Association Board.

Earlier today, Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan told the BBC that FIFA had rejected the armband compromise and was "sticking to the letter of the law".

And several British politicians, from all parts of the political spectrum, have angrily called on FIFA to reverse this apparent decision.

Source: AAP