FIFA fines British federations for memorials at WCup matches
GENEVA — The four British soccer federations were fined Monday by FIFA for displaying poppies at World Cup qualifying matches in November to honour their war dead.
England’s federation must pay 45,000 Swiss francs ($43,800) for the “display of a political symbol” at a home match against Scotland on Nov. 11. Scotland was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($19,500).
In other decisions, Romania was punished for a firework thrown at Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, Greece was fined for a fan banner against Bosnia-Herzegovina which referred to the Srebrenica massacre, and Chile was sanctioned again because of the anti-gay slurs chanted by its fans.
England and Scotland defied FIFA advice and its rules against the use of political, religious or personal symbols on kit and in stadiums, and players wore black armbands embroidered with poppies.