Fifa has handed out fines to all four home nations for displaying poppies during World Cup games around Armistice Day.
When England and Scotland met on 11 November at Wembley, players wore armbands featuring the poppy.
Wales and Northern Ireland’s respective games against Serbia and Croatia featured displays on the pitch and in the stands.
England have been fined £35,311, Scotland and Wales £15,694 and Northern Ireland £11,770.
Claudio Sulser, FIFA disciplinary committee chairman, stated he “fully respected” the commemorations but underlined the rules saying that they “need to be applied to all member associations” adding “The display, among others, of any political or religious symbol is strictly prohibited.”
“In the stadium and on the pitch, there is only room for sport, nothing else.”
During the England v Scotland game there was also a large visual display of poppies on the screens, a minute’s silence and the playing of the Last Post.
The Welsh FA said that after the game in Cardiff the following day, Fifa launched disciplinary proceedings after looking at “the presence of “a member of the armed forces holding a bunch of poppies at the exit of the tunnel.”
The Irish FA said it was “disappointed”, saying it “will take further legal advice before deciding on a future course of action” after their fine for holding of a minute’s silence, the laying of a wreath and a poppy display by fans before their game against Azerbaijan on 11 November.
Stewart Regan, Scottish FA chief executive says it is “clearly disappointing” that Fifa has ruled the poppy is a political symbol.
The SFA board will discuss the issue on Tuesday to decide on any appeal and will request the full reasons from Fifa and have made plans to discuss the issue with the FA, FAW and Irish FA shortly.
This is after Fifa agreed that the England, Scotland and Wales teams could wear poppies on black armbands during November internationals back in 2011.
However, under new president Gianni Infantino, Fifa implied they could punish teams financially or even make points deductions for breaking the rule before the matches last month.
BNP Chairman Adam Walker said:
“What an utter disgrace. This is yet another attack on British culture by those who seek to destroy the pride we have in our nation, using yet another politically correct excuse.
“Those who fought and died for a free Britain must be turning in their graves.
“The sooner we are rid of the monster that is political correctness, the better. It is killing our culture, traditions, way of life and homeland.”
