IS the wearing of a poppy a political act?

England have been hit with a fine for players sporting poppies on a black armband against Scotland as part of last months’ Remembrance Day commemorations. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also have to pay fines for their use of poppies.

FIFA has ruled that the poppy is a political symbol.

As a side note, it is bewildering to see that England’s fine is larger than the one handed to Chile for repeated homophobic chanting by the team’s fans during some of its international fixtures.

The Royal British Legion, organisers of the annual appeal, insist the poppy is not a political statement or a sign of support for war, but instead a symbol of remembrance and hope.

Not everyone agrees, however. Former Sunderland midfielder and Republic of Ireland international James McClean, refuses to wear a poppy, arguing it represents all of the conflicts the British Armed forces have taken part in, and there are some veterans of the two world wars who have expressed concerns that the poppy symbol has been hijacked by politicians to win over public sentiment for Britain’s controversial interventions in conflicts, such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq.

While the poppy may symbolise different things to different people we believe that FIFA has acted with trademark cack-handedness in this affair. New president Gianni Infantino is attempting to regain some credibility for football’s ailing governing body but he has failed to recognised the broad sentiment behind the poppy tribute.

England will appeal against the fine of 45,000 Swiss francs (£35,311), with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet to decide.

Even if they fail to overturn FIFA’s decision these fines are a price worth paying for a tribute that had to be paid.