Monday 7 November 2016

Poppy or no Poppy

Scotland and its tartan horde will descend on Wembley next weekend. I have no doubt there will be an abundance of poppies on show, if not on the player's kit, certainly amongst the supporters of both countries.

Most, if not all of the supporters wearing poppies will no doubt bear that imitation flower on their breast every year at this time. I would also suggest that the poppy worn by them will be worn in remembrance and the wearer will have no political thoughts.

Also have no doubt however that successions of Governments have 'politicised' the poppy and somehow altered what it was all about, shame on them.

My old aunt has absolutely no political thoughts, in fact she has no time for any politician. She will wear a poppy and attend the remembrance service in her village. Her brother was seventeen years of age when he perished in 1942. She is not imbued with 'pride', no it is simply her way of remembering her brother.

The whole thing is farcical. Eufa recently fined Celtic Football Club when some of it's supporters waved Palestinian flags whilst an Israeli team played at Parkhead in a Eufa competition. Did not Eufa indulge in politics by inviting a team from a country outwith Europe to compete in a European competition? In that case it was supporters who caused the fine, however illogical and unjust.

Back to Wembley, if the Associations succumb to the Fifa ruling about the political symbolism of poppies being displayed and play innocent of said emblem.  Do they then confiscate the supporters poppies. Because, based on the Celtic Football Club experience, supporters are just as guilty of bearing political symbols and getting their club, or in this case their association fined.

Lest we forget, the poppy is not only about remembrance, it is a vital plank in fund raising for a seriously worthwhile cause.

This publicity may well result in an increase of poppy sales. Good.


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