A campaign to overturn a ban by Fifa on international footballers wearing poppies during matches has been backed by almost 200,000 people.
England and Scotland play at Wembley on November 11, Armistice Day, and there had been hopes that players would wear commemorative shirts.
But according to the world governing body, teams may not display political, religious or commercial symbols on their kit.
Former RAF pilot and prisoner of war John Nichol has launched a petition on the change.org site urging Fifa to change its mind.
It has already been signed by over 200,000 people.
He wrote: “The poppy is not a political statement at all. It could not be further from a political statement.
“It is a statement of remembrance and an acknowledgement of sacrifice from the First World War right through to the sacrifices of our young men and women today.”
Mr Nichol said many service personnel were football fans, and the match was an opportunity for the country to show “how much we as a society care about the work these heroes do”.
He added: “No-one should ever be banned from wearing a poppy and it brings shame on Fifa that they continue to propagate this misunderstanding of our heritage.”
Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons Sports Committee, said the ban was insulting to British fans.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “I hope common sense prevails. Fifa has strict rules banning political, religious or commercial symbols from shirts. I think it is insulting to people in this country to say a poppy is one of those sort of symbols.
“Someone has shared with me on social media an Ireland football shirt that has a special embroidery on marking the centenary of the Easter Rising.
“Fifa allow that, so I think people will find it astonishing that the poppy’s not allowed.”
The Football Association remains optimistic that a compromise can be reached which would allow players to wear poppies on armbands for the World Cup qualifier.
The English and Scottish FAs have been in talks with Fifa for weeks about repeating an agreement reached in 2011, when England, Scotland and Wales played with specially-created 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.
