Craig Levein tells how grandfather was killed by German torpedo as he backs player poppies

SCOTLAND manager Craig Levein has backed football’s governing body’s decision to allow his side to wear poppies after revealing his own grandfather died in the Second World War.

Leading Seaman Charles Reginald Levein died in 1942 after his ship, the HMS Hecla, was attacked by a U-boat in the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Scotland manager was speaking after Fifa said it would allow Scotland, England and Wales to wear Remembrance poppies stitched into black armbands when they contest international friendlies over the weekend.

Levein’s side take on Cyprus tonight and will take to the field wearing the specially embroidered armbands after a compromise was reached between the home nations and Fifa, which ruled out players wearing poppies on their shirts.

Speaking yesterday, the Scotland manager said he was “glad some sort of positive conclusion” had been arrived at in what he considers “a black and white issue”.

Revealing details of his own family’s loss during the war, he said: “My grandfather was torpedoed by a submarine, so from my point of view it’s a no-brainer”.

He added: “I don’t want to go in to it all, but just want to explain why personally I believe we should be honouring the people who have died in the war. It doesn’t make sense not to, in my eyes. The politics baffle me”.

Levein was referring to his paternal grandfather who died on 12 November, 1942 after his ship was attacked by German submarine U-515.

Leading Seaman Levein was among the 279 men who died when the HMS Hecla was sunk as it took part in the Allied landings in North Africa.

In a further sign of respect towards members of the armed forces, Scotland’s players have passed on their spare complimentary tickets for tonight’s game to those currently stationed in Cyprus, a country in which there has long been a strong British military presence.

Levein added: “We have a lot of soldiers coming tomorrow and these people are a lot braver than I am to volunteer and have people firing bullets at you.”

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher echoed the thoughts of his manager and called it a “good thing” for the squad to have given their complimentary tickets to soldiers stationed on the island.

He said: “It’s good for the home nations to wear the poppy on our armband so we can show our respect and [give] a thank- you to our heroes who have lost lives.”

Both England and Wales will also wear poppies stitched in to their black armbands as they take on Spain and Norway respectively in home matches tomorrow afternoon.

Following a compromise brokered on Wednesday, the teams are being allowed to mark Remembrance Day without breaking football’s governing body’s rules that prohibit political and cultural symbols on strips.