Scotland and other home nations in poppy request for November matches

The four football associations of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland are to request permission from FIFA for their teams to wear poppies during November's international games.

James Forrest and Kyle Walker wear the poppy emblem during the World Cup qualifier in November 2016. Picture: Getty Images

The Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Assocation (FA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Irish Football Association (IFA) have issued a joint statement after FIFA changed its laws last month.

A change in the rules now allows the home nations to wear a poppy on the shirt if opposing teams and the competition organisers agree to it.

Each nation was hit with a fine after displaying poppies during matches held in November last year.

Scotland and England, along with Wales and Northern Ireland, were fined for displaying poppies. Picture: Getty Images

Scotland and England wore black armbands incorporating a poppy emblem during their World Cup qualifier at Wembley, while Wales and Northern Ireland displayed the symbol in their stadiums.

The joint statement read: “The four football associations of the home nations (The FA, FAW, the Scottish FA and Irish FA) welcome the new clarification on Law 4, issued on 26 September 2017 by The International Football Association Board (The IFAB), in close cooperation and agreement with FIFA, governing what can and cannot be worn on players’ shirts.

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“It was important that clarity was brought to this issue as it affects many football matches/competitions throughout the world and is particularly helpful in relation to remembrance and poppies.

Scotland and England, along with Wales and Northern Ireland, were fined for displaying poppies. Picture: Getty Images

“In any year when there are international matches in the week leading up to and including Remembrance Sunday, it is the intention of all four home nations to seek permission from the opposition team and FIFA (as the authority responsible for those matches) to display the poppy on armbands.”

Scotland face the Netherlands at Pittodrie on 6 November while England face Germany on 10 November, and Brazil on 14 November.

Wales play France on 10 November in Paris before hosting Panama on 14 November. Northern Ireland are in World Cup play-off action against Switzerland on the 9 and 12 November.

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