St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright has told FIFA to “get a reality check” after blasting the world governing body’s decision to ban Scotland and England’s players from wearing poppies on their shirts.
The two nations clash at Wembley next Friday – November 11 – and FIFA chiefs have warned the Scottish and English FAs that they risk punishment if they press ahead with Armistice Day tributes.
Both countries’ associations have announced they will don black armbands bearing the poppy symbol for the World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
FIFA rules prohibit players carrying any commercial, political or religious messages on their kit and FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura has indicated sanctions will be considered if the teams were to ignore those statues – including possible points deductions.
But Saints manager Wright – a former Northern Ireland goalkeeper – has backed Prime Minister Theresa May, who dubbed FIFA’s stance “utterly outrageous”.
“I think FIFA at times should get a reality check in what they do,” he said. “To class a poppy as a political statement when it is remembrance about people who have died and people who have given their lives up for us to have the liberties and freedom we have…
“I think the Prime Minister probably summed it up as well as what a lot of people are thinking.
“I certainly feel that they should be allowed to wear their poppy on their shirt. I don’t see why that would offend anybody.
“FIFA are basically a law unto themselves at times and I think they have missed a trick really. There probably wouldn’t be a FIFA if it wasn’t for all the sacrifices made down through history and not only in this country as well.
“I will certainly be wearing my poppy and I am pleased that the SFA and the English FA have made that stance.”
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee doubles up as Scotland’s assistant boss and will be by national team manager Gordon Strachan’s side when the teams go head to head next week.
And he finds it hard to believe anyone would be offended if the players were to kick off with the poppy symbols on their kits.
McGhee said: “I wear a poppy. I’m someone who has a great respect for the armed forces. I think they do an amazing job – a job that most of us would not have the bottle to do.
“I really do think they deserve support – it’s a very British thing. I don’t think it’s disrespectful to anyone else.
“It’s traditional. I know times and traditions change but I think wearing a poppy is a quiet, respectful way of recognising everybody who has made a contribution over all the conflicts we’ve had.
“I’ve not studied the intimate politics of (FIFA’s rules) so I don’t want to go that deep into it but my personal feeling is I’d like to wear a poppy.
“If they say no, we will look for some other way to show respect.”
