Fifa urged by Culture Secretary to withdraw sanctions threat for wearing poppies

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has urged Fifa to "see sense" and withdraw the threat of sanctions against any of the home nations which wear poppies.

England and Scotland football players will wear the poppy symbol on black armbands during their Armistice Day World Cup qualifier at Wembley next week in defiance of a ban by the sport's world governing body.

And Ms Bradley said the UK Government "stands right behind" the FA and Scottish FA for their stance.

She added she will let Fifa officials know the level of anger there is across the country about its ban when she attends the November 11 fixture.

Fifa insists the laws of the game prohibit commercial, political or religious messages from players' kit.

Speaking in the Commons, Tory MP Mike Wood (Dudley South) asked Ms Bradley: "Will you support any of the home nations who choose to display a poppy next week to remember all of those from every part of the world who sacrificed so much?

"And will you also pass on the anger there is in this House and amongst our constituents to Fifa?"

Ms Bradley replied: "You are absolutely right.

"We stand right behind both the FA and the Scottish FA in their decision to wear poppies.

"I'll be at the match next week and I'll make sure I pass on those comments because it's absolutely right that home nations, if they choose to, should wear poppies to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives.

"And I hope Fifa will see sense and withdraw any threat of sanctions for doing so."

It is feared England and Scotland risk a potential points deduction by opting to wear the armbands.

Theresa May criticised Fifa during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, telling MPs: "Before they start telling us what to do, they jolly well ought to sort their own house out."