If you don’t know, the flower is to commemorate the fallen soldiers In WW1 and posterior wars that the uk took part in: “In the U.K., the Royal British Legion distributes around 45 million poppies each year, with members of the public making donations in exchange for the flowers that can be pinned on clothes or on wreaths laid at the graves of the war dead. These days, poppies commemorate not only those who died in WWI, but also in WWII and later conflicts.” according to Time Magazine. As an Argentinian, with all the history with the Malvinas war I don’t like that players like Julian Álvarez have to wear it. I can’t even imagine to people from countries that suffered for more time because of the British empire. I’ve heard that some Irish players refused to wear it but in my opinion non British players shouldn’t be encouraged to wear it. I find it ridiculous that players from countries that suffered because of the UK and where repressed by their army weat the symbol. what do you think?
I find the decision to change to symbol to include all the soldiers who died in conflicts until this day too much. That stopped people like Matic from wearing it. WWI and WWII are legit for the sacrifices these men took where it was clear what is right and what is wrong. Majority of post wwII conflict had a lot of politics behind and were usually out of someone’s interest. Premier league has the most international players in the world and a lot of them are comming from countries that suffered due to UK’s actions. On the other side, people like Alvarez are probably too young to have any emotions about what happend
Our world would be much better off with less glorification of war, militarism, and violence. Especially glorification of such a useless and barbaric war as WWI.
Do words ‘Lest We Forget’ mean nothing to you?
Personally I feel like these days (Veterans Day as well) are just subtle war propaganda. They send hundreds of young poor kids to their deaths in places like Iraq & wave away their complicity with a day of pointless gestures. But you do you, I’d have no problems wearing it.
A symbolic action that achieves nothing…idk seems like virtue signaling to me, no?
It directly raises money for charity, I’m sure there is money changing hands when teams wear them, just like every other poppy themed thing is a charitable act.
So whether or not you agree with it, it is not just symbolic.
Until they explained it, I was thinking “why is everyone wearing bullet holes?”
Thought it was two ass cheeks gripped open, myself.
Why does it matter what fans outside of the UK think? It just screams another case of people trying to look for a reason to remove culture from a product
Most of the teams have foreign owners, most of the players in PL are foreigners, the PL got the most of the money from abroad, the referees are getting paid in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, so at the moment its USA and Arab owned league
And? If you are so against British culture. Move all the foreign investment to Saudi Arabia or somewhere where you have nothing to moan about
You don’t sit there moaning at other leagues to eradicate their countries culture because “foreigners”
Hopefully it’s a reminder for them not to colonize, genocide brown people and kill others as well as remembering their fallen
To honour our fallen soldiers I respect the symbol but understand with some people who might not feel they want to wear it.
Get a grip you wanker
It’s only baffling if you’re an ignorant wanker who can’t comprehend that some people see it as a celebration of the British Army
I’m a firm believer that if you don’t want to wear it, then don’t. But I believe if you come to a country you should abide by its traditions and cultural norms, much like covering skin if you visit a mosque somewhere in the East. If you don’t want to be forced to wear a poppy you are free to leave the country of course.
And it’s the Falklands. We won, call it that.
I am a British fan, but I’m going to put my opinion on the table anyway.
Personally, I disagree with the Irish interpretation, and many of the others that are critical of the Poppy symbol, but what I feel that it represents is exactly the reason why requesting to not have a poppy on their shirt should be completely acceptable.
Whether that is because they hold the belief of many Irish as to what it represents, an Argentinian who mourns the loss of their servicemen in the Falklands, or something similar to Matic a few years ago… it’s a personal decision and part of the freedom that so many died to protect. It makes no sense to me that the Poppy is weaponized against people who use their freedom of expression to peacefully dissent from the mainstream expectation.
I don’t wear a poppy, because im not big into symbolism. I much prefer words, thoughts, and discussion.
That said, I’m not convinced that on a global platform you can openly suggest that the British have oppressed the Argentinians without challenge. The British have a lot of shame in our history, but really don’t think you can just tag on an entirely justified conflict and let is slide under the radar as simply accepted.
I was admiring the other day how Britain remembered their fallen. Keep it going.
Honestly, I don’t see the issue.
It honors all fallen soldiers, not just the British. Even if it did honor just the British, there would be no issue because at the end of the day it’s a British league, no foreign players are forced to play in England, if they have an issue with it, that’s their personal problem that they need to grow up from.
Don’t like it? Don’t join the league.
German here, I think it’s a fitting symbol to remember the fallen soldiers, given it comes from the song “In Flanders Fields” where brutal fighting took place
they fought valiantly in some of the worst conditions imaginable - actually I don’t even think it’s imaginable but whatever.
also, WTF, the Falklands war was started by the argentinian military junta. yes, their soldiers suffered as well, but that war should have never been fought.
World War I was not a colonial war. it was sadly unavoidable given the direction Europe took in that time, but 90% of it was fought in Europe. World War II was fought to stop Nazi aggression. I think nobody should have anything against that.
this is not about Britain oppressing other countries