EXCLUSIVE: Poppy ban on England kit enforced 'in case we upset Germans'

Role model: How Theo Walcott would look with the poppy on his shirt - but Fifa are so far refusing to allow the design

FIFA have insisted that England cannot wear poppies against Spain at Wembley — in case they one day meet Germany around the time of Remembrance Sunday.

Football’s governing body do not want to create a ‘provocative’ political precedent which would potentially cloud a future match because of historical difference.

The FA had their request for poppies to be sewn into England’s kit for Saturday’s match against the world champions declined by FIFA, to the dismay of war veterans and England’s governing body. 

Manager Fabio Capello wore a poppy while watching Tottenham beat Fulham.

But a FIFA source told Sportsmail: ‘What would happen if England played Germany around the time of Remembrance Sunday, for example? The international aspect of the regulations gets overlooked when people want to feel it’s England against FIFA.

‘But the rules are there in case political inference could potentially be far more provocative.’ 

Poppy on: England manager Fabio Capello watching Fulham v Tottenham

A FIFA statement added: ‘FIFA has 208 Member Associations and the same regulations are applied globally, and uniformly, in the event of similar requests by other nations to commemorate historical events.’ 

Pressure: FIFA won't bow to the requests of the FA to allow England to wear shirts adorned with poppies in their game on Remembrance weekend

Despite insisting poppies are not allowed, FIFA have given permission to the FA to remember the British armed forces with a minute’s silence before kick-off.

Talks will continue this week, but FIFA are unlikely to back down on their hard-line stance and the FA feel they have to comply.

Old rivals: Germany got one over England again at the World Cup in 2010

Accordingly, the FA have already made contingency plans. England training on Friday November 11 has been moved by half an hour to allow the players to observe a two-minute silence with the rest of the nation at 11am.

Dedicated: It is likely that Tommy Horsecroft, who has worked at the British Legion Poppy Factory for 25 years, won't be too happy with Fifa's ruling

The squad’s training gear will also be embellished with a poppy and Fabio Capello and his coaching staff will wear poppies on the sidelines.

FIFA’s regulations stipulate a players’ kit should not ‘carry any political, religious or commercial messages’.

The rules also state: ‘The team of a player whose basic compulsory (playing) equipment has political, religious or personal slogans or statements will be sanctioned by the competition organiser or by FIFA.’ 

Gesture: Premier League clubs have had poppies added to their shirts

Symbol: Theo Walcott's (left) Arsenal shirt has a poppy on the front

FIFA would not expand yesterday on what punishment would follow if the rules were broken. But it is understood it could range from letters reminding the players and the FA of their ‘responsibilities’ to the laws of the game; to financial fines, suspensions or even expulsion from FIFA.

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