Fair enough. Perhaps today fiasco is a strong word when FIFA are supposedly only looking into it. Soon enough it might not be if FIFA decide this merits something stronger than the five figure fines they've recently doled out to Iran, Kosovo and Croatia. I readily accept that before this week FIFA didn't appear to have given a monkeys about it. But now that it's been highlighted and others are seeking to cite it as precedent for their displays (England & Scotland) while political pressure has been created and placed upon the IFA to follow suit -FIFA might just decide to make an example of us to nip this thing in the bud.Originally Posted by geysir
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
The daughter passes the gut test so?
The wee fella was never a doubt.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Any reason why the IFA are not getting involved in this? Just curious
Excellent, well argued.....good stuff
I would say the IFA are trying their best NOT to get involved in this. But they now have the bould Nelson McCausland demanding the Northern Ireland team wear poppies as well ...another sauce for the goose argument. It's not like the IFA have to jump at Nelsons behest but it does create pressure and leads to more people joining his cause and indulging their victimhood when the IFA try to explain it's really not a great idea.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
Our case is a minor matter in the scheme of things.
I'd say that the FA and SFA will be in much thicker soup if they carry on with their intention to openly defy a public Fifa warning to desist from their path of open dissent.
1 Unlike in England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic, we can hardly pretend that a poppy or lily symbol has close to 100% support
2 Given the fuss started by those needy Paralympians before the San Marino game, it makes sense to keep a low profile
3 It's more dignified anyway
PS if the punishment becomes more severe for open defiance as Geysir suggests, then here's a possible rejigged table:
Lithuania 2-4
---------------
Slovenia 2-4
---------------
Slovakia 1-0
Malta 1-0
---------------
(Scotland DQ)
(England DQ)
Last edited by Gather round; 06/11/2016 at 11:31 AM.
Contrary to earlier disinformation the IFA did get involved
The Irish FA has written to football's world governing body Fifa to clarify whether Northern Ireland players can wear poppies on their shirts next week in a crucial match.
Officials made the request ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan next Friday, which is Armistice Day.
However, 52% of BT readers agree that the poppy IS a political symbol and 55% agree that the players should NOT wear the poppy.
Amongst many other aspects but when NI politicians get involved in the public criticism of players who choose not to wear the poppy, it becomes a political issue.
Happy to be corrected. Hadn't kept up with developments up there. I'm kind of surprised at them to be honest. But at least they're asking rather than demanding I suppose.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
I'd regard it as the height of pigheadedness for the IFA (by IFA standards of pigheadedness) to be requesting permission for the players to wear the poppy on the shirt.
And then when Niall McGinn refuses to wear it we will have Wullie going mental. Gas.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/80903...sm=12&fit=max&
Guardian's take on the "controversy".
Last edited by BonnieShels; 08/11/2016 at 1:00 PM.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Not opening for me. Meanwhile the Irish News is reporting our northern cousins will wear black armbands but not poppies following a clear-as-mud clarification from FIFA who "could not guarantee there would be no discipliniary proceedings" if the poppy was displayed.
I'm going to speculate this is what happens next
Northern Ireland -asked for permission (permission denied) -did not wear politican symbol - no further action taken.
England -asked for permission (permission denied) - defied clarification and wore political symbol - substantial fine.
Scotland -asked for permission (permission denied) - defied clarification and wore political symbol - substantial fine.
Ireland -did not ask for permission -wore political symbol - nailed to a wall.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
I'm pleased the IFA won't be wearing the poppy, disappointed that they even asked.
As soon as the symbol moves from collecting tin to players' shirts, it becomes effectively compulsory (and undignified, even before you consider all the halfwits sculpting it into their facial hair/ furry animal mascots etc.)
As a wise dissenter said on social media, anyone arguing it isn't a political symbol in NI needs their head felt.
You can probably now say the same thing of E, S, and W.
Delaney can pay the fine from his singing royalties.
PS belated thanks to Fixer for that BBC WS link above
Last edited by Gather round; 10/11/2016 at 9:30 AM.
Here itis again:
https://www.theguardian.com/football...py-fury-season
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
England and Scotland both wearing poppy armbands. Wales chose not to in the end.
Lovely amount of jingoistic crap at the start
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Fifa will now surely give the obstinate brits a pass on their poppy affection while burying us with a €50k fine
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