The FA say they will fight any punishment imposed on them by FIFA for wearing poppies against Scotland tomorrow night.
Football’s world governing body rejected requests from England and Scotland to have poppies on their shirts because they consider the move to be a political gesture.
However, despite the threat of sanctions, both nations have decided to wear black armbands with poppies for the World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
The most likely punishment is a fine but FA chief executive Martin Glenn today vowed to contest any action.
Glenn, speaking at a Sports Industry Breakfast Club meeting at the BT Centre in London, said: “We will contest it because, and we have had QC opinion on this, we believe our case is absolutely rock solid. So good luck with it.
“This is a laws of the game issue, not a FIFA competition issue. In England over the last couple of weekends, clubs have worn poppies on shirts which is also a breach of regulations and nothing has happened about that.
“So I am very confident that our legal position is right. Our moral position is certainly right. There are bigger things for FIFA to worry about.
“And if there was [a punishment] I am sure we could persuade them to divert the fine into supporting the British Legion. But I am very confident it will not come to that.”
The UK's first art remembrance trail for Poppy Day
Glenn added: “I had hoped to resolve it quietly but these things never happen quietly. That forced us to be clear about our position, which is we will wear them, and to point out we think they are interpreting the rules wrongly.”
Glenn also spoke about the chances of Gareth Southgate being England manager on a permanent basis.
Southgate is in line for the role if the team perform well against Scotland and Spain in the next five days but Glenn said the FA will consider other candidates.
Glenn said: “We get though the next two games and then we are going to put our heads together, talk to Gareth and really understand his level of interest in the role.
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“I hope he is interested and wants to put his hat in the ring. We have a bit of time then to assess him and then the other candidates.”
Southgate stepped in on a caretaker basis after Sam Allardyce left the job in September.
“We did not forecast the departure of Sam, so we needed to adapt differently,” said Glenn. “I think it is a credit to the FA that we have been able to adapt very well.”
