Poppy day: Sheffield sports club shows what it thinks about 'stupid' FIFA

England and Scotland teams both risked punishment from FIFA for wearing black armbands bearing a red poppy.

Fifa do not allow “political statements” on shirts.

Last night, in a sport unfettered by such restrictions, Steelers players wore a kit with a poppy specially designed into it, as a mark of respect for the fallen men and women in the armed services.

And 8,137 fans joined in the tribute with a minute’s silence at Sheffield Arena.

“As you can see there is no stupid rule in our league stopping us wearing a poppy” Smith said in his match-night programme notes.
“It represented the millions who died in Flanders during the 1914-8 war. It was the only flower to grow on the barren battlefields where the worst of the fighting was.
It is a celebration and a tradition which we should all respect.”
The club also auctioned off the shirts to make a donation to the Remembrance charity.

All the coaching staff also wore poppies.

*Steelers went on to hammer their nearest rivals 8-1, in a memorable night at the House of Steel.