A football chaplain has told Premier he welcomes FIFA's u-turn over its decision to ban the wearing of poppies by football players in international matches.
Scrapping the controversial ban will allow England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to commemorate Armistice Day - without being punished for doing so.
Last November, all four nations were fined by the football governing body for ignoring warnings not to wear the emblem, during their World Cup qualifiers.
Rev Kevin Johns, chaplain for Swansea City Football Club, tells Premier the ban should never have been introduced.
He said: "It's quite ridiculous - the poppy's not a political symbol. The poppy is a symbol which pays tribute to those who lost their lives, particularly in the Great War and the Second World War...and to raise money as well to help those who have been wounded and those who are going through tough times."
FIFA's stance - based on a strict interpretation of its laws against the use of personal, political or religious slogans or symbols - sparked widespread condemnation in Britain, with Prime Minister Theresa May calling it "utterly outrageous" in Parliament.
Football's world governing body sent its member associations new guidance on law four, which is the section of the game's rule book on what players can wear.
In the document, FIFA says certain "initiatives" may appear on players' kits, along with the usual name, number, team crest and so on.
It doesn't however clarify what these "initiatives" might be but says they cannot breach law 12, which refers to foul play and abusive language, and restates law four's existing criteria which rule out wearing "personal" or "religious...slogans, statements or images".
Rev Johns said that while he expresses his political views privately, politics shouldn't be ruled out of the game.
He explained to Premier: "We wear badges to keep racism out, to 'show racism the red card', well I suppose technically, the issue of racism is a moral, it's an ethical - therefore it does become a political issue because we take a stand against racism because it's ugly, it's wrong, it's wicked, it's evil and sport has taken a massive stand against that.
"So are they going to stop us wearing those? No, because FIFA and UEFA have massive campaigns against racism... That's a political issue surely but its right to use football and to use incredibly talented footballers who are heroes to many people to emphasize it and support a campaign against racism."
If England seal qualification for next summer's World Cup in their next two games in early October, they are set to play Germany in a friendly at Wembley in November and it is understood they have already been given permission by the German FA to wear poppies.
The Royal British Legion, which provides financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants welcomed FIFA's decision.
In a statement sent to Premier the charity said: "The poppy is a national symbol that has always represented Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.
"It holds deep meaning for millions of people all over the Commonwealth. The red poppy has no political, religious or commercial meaning. The decision to wear it is a personal choice for both players and spectators."
Listen to Rev Kevin Johns speaking with Premier's Eno Adeogun:
