FIFA’s secretary general yesterday scoffed that our war dead are not special enough to merit England players wearing poppies.
Fatma Samoura said: “Britain is not the only country that has been suffering from the result of war.”
The ex-UN diplomat, born in the West African country of Senegal, said: “Syria is an example. My own continent has been torn by war for years.”
Last night the FA said it will defy Fifa’s ban on players wearing “political” poppies at next week’s World Cup match.
The Armistice Day clash with Scotland at Wembley will see them have black armbands with the symbol.
It means the Three Lions risk being docked qualifying points.
“I think the stance that has been taken by Fifa is utterly outrageous,” the PM said.
She continued: “Our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives for our safety and security.
“I think it is absolutely right that they should be able to do so.”
Samoura, 54, who was appointed to her £1million-a-year job despite no footie experience, insisted the poppy ban stands and England “should be ready to face any kind of sanction”.
She said: “The only question is why are we doing an exception for just one country and not the rest of the world.”
“The FA intend to pay appropriate tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by having the England team wear black armbands bearing poppies.”
Responding to the backlash, Fifa Secretary General Samoura wrote an official letter in which she “drew attention to law four”, which states that “political or religious messages” are banned from all players’ shirts.
The 54-year-old was offered the job as Fifa was making desperate attempts to improve its reputation following a string of officials’ arrests over corruption charges.
She previously worked as a United Nations official.
Five months on from accepting the role at Fifa and promising to bring a “fresh approach” to the governing body, she is now faced with the decision of whether it should impose its poppy ban on England, Scotland and Wales, whose players are also expected to don the armbands for fallen soldiers during their match with Serbia in Cardiff this month.
Speaking on the BBC's Today Programme, Commons Sports Committee chairman Damian Collins said: “I hope common sense prevails.
“Fifa has strict rules banning political, religious or commercial symbols from shirts.
“I think it is insulting to people in this country to say a poppy is one of those sort of symbols.
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“Someone has shared with me on social media an Ireland football shirt that has a special embroidery on marking the centenary of the Easter Rising.
“Fifa allow that, so I think people will find it astonishing that the poppy's not allowed.”
While the English FA is reportedly optimistic about a compromise, Scottish FA Chief Executive Stewart Regan today told the BBC Fifa has already made their minds up on “sticking to the letter of the law”.
A Fifa spokesman told the MailOnline: “The Laws of the Game are overseen by the International Football Association Board and applicable to all 211 member associations.
“The relevant Law 4, clearly states players’ equipment should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages.
“The Laws are applied uniformly in the event of similar requests by any member association to commemorate similar historical events.”
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