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.

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

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.’

« Previous1234567Next »