Soccer

Fifa opens proceedings against England and Scotland for wearing of poppies

Gordon Strachan given unanimous backing by the Scottish Football Association board

Members of the British armed services carry a poppy wreath onto the pitch as England players look on in remembrance of Armistice Day prior to the World Cup qualifying match between England and Scotland at Wembley Stadium. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Members of the British armed services carry a poppy wreath onto the pitch as England players look on in remembrance of Armistice Day prior to the World Cup qualifying match between England and Scotland at Wembley Stadium. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Thu Nov 17 2016 - 17:59

Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association and Scottish Football Association for the wearing of poppies during last week’s World Cup qualifier.

The English and Scottish football associations defied Fifa on Armistice Day — as players from both teams wore embroidered poppies on black armbands — after football’s world governing body said the act fell under the commercial, personal, political or religious messages that it has banned.

Fifa announced that FA and SFA faced action on Thursday night with both facing the possibility of a fine, while even a World Cup points deduction is possible.

“We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened on this matter,” a spokesman said.

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“We cannot comment further at this stage nor speculate on any outcome or provide an estimated timeline.”

The Football Association has already said it will contest any fine and believes its ”legal position is right and our moral position is right”.

England won the Group F match 3-0 thanks to headed goals from Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Gary Cahill.

Meanwhile Gordon Strachan has been given unanimous backing by the Scottish Football Association board.

Strachan will continue as Scotland manager after board members accepted his assertion that he could turn their World Cup campaign around.

In a statement, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said: “We support Gordon unanimously in improving our qualification prospects.”