The Great Poppy War of 2011

Galling as it may be to admit this, it is possible that in the Great Poppy Stramash of 2011 FIFA is right and the Football Association is wrong. Perhaps that puts it too strongly. Let me put it this way: were I in charge of FIFA, I’d make an exception to their general prohibition on “political statements and symbols” to allow England to adorn their shirts with poppies for their friendly match against Spain this weekend. But were I running the FA I’d respond to FIFA’s silly reluctance to make any such exception by saying “Well, we think this unfortunate but there it is. Let’s get on with the game.”

And if the Football Association really wants to make a point about all this then perhaps it could write a hefty cheque – at least £100,000 – to the Poppy Appeal? That would be a better use of its time than stoking the kind of synthetic outrage that all too sadly has become one of this country’s most productive manufacturing industries.