Simon Clark - Taking Liberties

There are clearly more important things to write about today, which is one of the reasons I find the poppygate issue so ridiculous.

People who should know better are still milking FIFA's refusal to allow the poppy to be worn on the shirts of the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland teams during next week's internationals.

OK, so England players were allowed to wear armbands embroidered with a poppy a few years ago but, before that, when was it ever an issue?

I agree there's some hypocrisy in the fact that the Irish team was allowed to commemorate the 1916 uprising on their shirts for two international 'friendlies' earlier this year.

But, again, why are people (Conservatives in particular) making such a fuss?

In recent years I have grown increasingly annoyed by what can only be called poppy fascism.

Look, I happily buy and wear a poppy. I do it every year because I believe it's the right thing to do.

But if someone chooses not to that's a matter for them and I won't criticise them for it.

What is far worse than not wearing a poppy is the sense you are being forced to whether you like it or not.

Ironically this less than subtle campaign has been driven in recent years by the 'liberal' BBC and other broadcasters who insist on every newsreader, presenter or guest wearing a poppy.

OK, perhaps they don't insist but before you're interviewed it's someone's job to offer you a poppy (if you're not already wearing one) and the clear implication is that you should wear it.

As I say, it's not the wearing of a poppy I object to, it's the less than subtle sense of compulsion.

Perhaps the broadcasters are just looking after your best interests because look what happens if someone does appear on screen without a poppy:

ITV news presenter hits back after abuse for not wearing poppy (Guardian).

The same thing happens in football.

In recent years top Premiership clubs have added poppies to their shirts around Armistice Day. In theory players have a choice but when West Brom's Irish striker James McClean exercises his right not to have a poppy on his shirt he attracts all manner of abuse (and not just from politicians in Northern Ireland):

Politician claims James McClean is "wrong" not to wear poppy (Joe.co.uk)

Outrage as football star James McClean REFUSES to wear poppy on his shirt (Daily Express)

The fact is, for most presenters, guests and football players there is no choice, unless you want to nail a target to your head and invite people to throw metaphorical darts at you.

I've no doubt that the overwhelming majority of people in this country are happy to wear a poppy and show their respects to those who have fought and died in wars, but what we are seeing with the faux outrage towards FIFA is the sort of virtual signalling we detest in others.

The nonsense doesn't end with poppies. A Tory MP, Andrew Rosindell, today called for the national anthem to be played on TV every night. For goodness sake.

Personally I would ban the playing of national anthems at all sporting events, especially the Olympics where most competitors are competing as individuals even though they may have been selected to represent their country.

Kit wise, I would ban any accessory to the basic shirt, shorts and socks. Football is a team game so why should players be given the choice of embroidering their kit with added extras?

I would also ban the choice of short or long sleeved shirts. Long sleeves only, please.

And no gloves or hair bands!

It's probably too late to ban coloured boots (other than black) but there has to be a rule that boots must be colour coordinated with the team's strip (home or away).

Anyway, for the first time ever I seem to be in agreement with Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror who has tweeted:

England played 10/10/01 Armistice Day eve. WW1 veterans alive. More from WW2. No poppies. 2016: manufactured row pic.twitter.com/RTrZubQi3c
— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) November 3, 2016