FIFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Wales because their fans were wearing poppies at the recent Wales v Serbia world cup qualifier match. Although the Welsh players were not wearing poppies, their fans were, and FIFA are very unhappy about this display of defiance by the paying public - link

FIFA deem poppies to be a political statement. I'm not sure if these cretinous control freaks can actually comprehend the dictionary definition of the word political but the wearing of poppies is to commemorate the dead. It is manifestly NOT a political statement.

Naturally the Welsh FA will vigorously contest such a charge, and I hope the fans just totally ignore these idiots. What next, we can't cheer our team?

How can they tell the playing public what to wear?

If I was a football supporter I'd make a special effort to wear an enormous Poppy to EVERY game simply to piss off FIFA.

I suspect they are not. However the "charges" probably relate to the countries football authorities organizing various off field "promotion" of the poppy. I don't believe newspapers (who are in entertainment business) should be taken at face value.

I don't believe the poppy is political, but i can understand why FIFA find the path of least resistance is too ban displays of this kind.

I'll remember that next time I'm offended by Ronaldo's shocking cerise attire.

Or even the paying public

I don't know, but I do know it should be utterly defied at every turn until these bastards learn some respect. No-one, for example, would - within reason - dictate to me what I can and cannot wear.

I agree that insulting, racist and homophobic clothing/chants are stamped out. But when this goes further, into the realms of trying to control perfectly reasonable and traditional behaviour by fans, then it has to be defied. Has to be, whatever the consequences. Just defy such idiots.

Given that it's FIFA, they probably wanted a percentage of any money collected in tins.

I thnk it is high time some one or some group of nations broke away and started a new football governing body. FIFA don't seem to be fit for purpose in any aspect.

These big cooperations like FIFA are destroying us. They won't stop until we are all soulless, joyless drones.

1984 comes to mind.

The Terminator?

I wish he'd terminate the Suites who make these decisions.

Celtic got fined for their fans displaying a Palestinian flag.

It`s just the way of the world.

If this is so ****ing offensive to the corrupt dicks at FIFA then why did the FIFA-appointed referee officiate over the one-minute silence before the game, signifying the start and end by blowing his whistle?

Maybe we ought to go back to being violent and racist - FIFA don't seem so concerned by that..

Maybe the RBL should offer them 10%. One more nail in FIFAs coffin. Though as my wife has just pointed out, the fine will probably be more than this. Great outcome for FIFA

Sadly its not just fifa that HATE individuality & would like us all to be BORG like

Yes, because that is clearly politically motivated, unlike displaying poppies.

Unfortunately it has now become a political statement.

Ed Milliband not writing on the poppy wreath personally
Jeremy Corbyn doing a jig in Remembrance Sunday
Jeremy Corbyn not bowing properly

Sorry but when it was debated by the PM, it became political.

Clearly it is something lost in translation, quite obviously they are not fining football associations for some of the paying punters wearing small red bits of plastic, its for the various displays of larger ones at various points of the match/pre-match.

I think it's high time we ditched FIFA and took football in a more positive direction amongst non-corrupt countries. A football exit (Fooxit?)

Great Post Blueblade.

Rubbish - they can debate it till the cows come home. This goes way above present day Westminster characters. The act is not political and never has been since its inception. It is to honour the millions of dead from two world wars and the many thousands who've died since. That is NOT political, and to suggest that it is, is a gross insult to all those who laid down their lives.

I agree with the posters who suggested that a breakaway organisation be formed to represent countries who feel that FIFA is no longer fit for purpose as a governing body for world football.

Cheers MM

You're on form this morning. Another good one.