Comber TUV Cllr Stephen Cooper has hit out at the decision of the IFA to not display a poppy during tomorrow’s international match.
Cllr Cooper said:
“I am extremely disappointed at the Irish Football Association’s decision to break with both her English and Scottish counterparts with regards to remembering and honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice tomorrow evening. All players from the home nations should be displaying a poppy.
“This wrong decision was compounded by the IFA demanding the withdrawal of a Northern Ireland shirt with a poppy from sale before quickly backtracking.
“Once again we see the politicisation of what should be an act of dignified act of remembrance to those who showed tremendous courage and sacrifice in the Great War and other conflicts and laid down their lives for our freedom.
“In contrast to these brave men and women, who stood shoulder to shoulder against the tyranny waged against our islands, the IFA have at one fell swoop, degraded their heroic actions and shamefully shown themselves to be unable to make a stand against the directive from FIFA. FIFA is a discredited organisation steeped in controversy and shady deals and should be ignored if not rebuked in the strongest possible terms for its stance on this issue.
“I urge the IFA to do the right thing and have the players display poppies tomorrow night. We should stand together with our English and Scottish compatriots in honour of our fallen heroes.”