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England national football team
World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage
Nov 11, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Scotland national football team

3-0

Sturridge (24'), Lallana (50'), Cahill (61')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Darren Fletcher backs decision to wear poppies

Fletcher backs decision to wear poppies
© SilverHub
Scotland captain Darren Fletcher backs the SFA's decision to defy FIFA and wear poppies during their World Cup qualifier with England at Wembley.

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher has backed the SFA's decision to wear poppies during their World Cup qualifier with England on Friday.

Both teams are set to defy FIFA rules that prohibit political, religious or commercial messages on shirts by wearing black armbands adorned with poppies to pay respect to members of the British Armed Forces.

Scotland and England could potentially be docked points as a result of their defiance, but Fletcher believes that the teams are making the right decision.

"First and foremost I think everyone would love to wear the poppy and wants to wear the poppy to show our respect. FIFA have their rules and you understand why but hopefully common sense prevails. I don't want to talk too much about it and what the consequences are for us because it's important to concentrate on the game but the players would love to show their respects by wearing the poppy," he told reporters.

"You can see today how much it means to people. There was a bit of a misunderstanding at the start (of the minute's silence in Sunday's game, a 2-1 win at Leicester), the Albion fans were in the concourse singing and were not aware of what was going on out on the pitch. It caused a bit of confusion, Albion fans would not have done anything like that intentionally. It was a great occasion and everyone should pay their respects.

"I'm not even thinking about [the poppy debate]. We have a game to play and things like that get taken care of by people in higher places than me. My focus is the game, England vs. Scotland, and trying to get three points for my country which would be massive at Wembley."

Scotland currently sit fourth in Group F, three points behind leaders England.

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Darren Fletcher of West Bromwich Albion celebrates his team's 1-0 win in the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park on September 19, 2015 in Birmingham, United Kingdom
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