Fifa to lift the ban on poppies on football shirts

Fifa appear set to lift the ban on poppies on football shirts.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were all fined by the governing body last year for using poppies to commemorate Armistice Day. England and Scotland wore special armbands with the emblem on during their World Cup qualifier at Wembley last November, with Wales and Northern Ireland displaying poppies in their stadiums. Fifa deemed the poppy to be a 'political symbol' - something their rules have forbidden - but, having held talks with the football associations of each UK nation, are expected to pass a new law on the matter in time for the international fixtures which are scheduled to take place between November 6 and 14. According to reports, Fifa sent out a draft proposal to its member nations last week with revised provisions that would see use of the poppy permitted on the condition that opposing teams and competition organisers accepted a request for its use in advance. As a result of this, the UK associations are no longer expected to pay the fines they were hit with last year. England's fixtures for November will be confirmed following the final round of World Cup qualifying matches which take place in October. They are expected to host Germany at Wembley if both teams avoid finishing in the play-off positions of their groups. According to the BBC, the German FA has no objections to the poppy being used.