/ 10 November 2011

Englishmen face charges for Fifa roof protest

Fifa has filed a trespassing complaint against two English protesters who climbed on the roof of its headquarters in the poppy emblem dispute.

Fifa has filed a trespassing complaint against two English protesters who climbed on the roof of its headquarters in the poppy emblem dispute.

Zurich police spokesperson Marco Bisa says prosecutors will decide on Thursday whether to charge the men, who are 42 and 28 and claim to be from a right-wing nationalist movement.

The men objected to Fifa refusing to allow England players to wear a poppy emblem on their shirts against Spain on Saturday.

Bisa said that they were arrested after descending from Fifa’s roof late on Wednesday.

A bizarre day in the saga began with British Prime Minister David Cameron condemning the “poppy ban” as “appalling” before the two men, members of the British far-right organisation English Defence League, mounted a rooftop protest at Fifa’s Zurich headquarters.

England’s FA had requested the right for players shirts to be embroidered with a red poppy for Saturday’s friendly international with Spain at Wembley.

Poppies mark Remembrance Day, which honours British Commonwealth forces who died on duty.

Fifa had refused the request on the grounds that it would “open the door to similar initiatives” across the world.

Fifa has compromised, saying England’s black armbands can carry a poppy symbol. — Reuters