Poppy power
I don't understand the fuss about Britain's national football teams having an embroidered poppy on their shirts.
Or, to put it another way, this must be the first time I have ever had sympathy for the world governing body Fifa.
If you haven't been following this manufactured debate, Fifa is opposed to the idea. Understandably, I think, they are worried that other countries will demand the right to add all sorts of insignia to their shirts as well.
Don't get me wrong. I am happy to wear a poppy. As a tribute to Britain's war dead it's probably the least we can do. On Sunday I even bought three poppies because one is never enough. The average lifespan of a poppy in my hands is 48 hours.
But I don't like the idea that I have to wear a poppy.
On Tuesday, for example, I was interviewed on television. By chance, I was wearing one of my poppies in the buttonhole of my suit.
The BBC, however, wasn't taking any chances. On a table next to the chair in the studio was a poppy with a pin. It was clearly intended to be worn by the interviewee and if you have watched any live programme in the past fortnight you will have noticed that almost everyone is wearing one.
As I say, I am proud to wear a poppy but I am concerned that the whole thing has become yet another form of political correctness and people are being bullied to conform.
PS. For once I am in agreement with an article on the Guardian website: It is not a travesty if England do not wear poppies for the Spain game.
In contrast, the most risible article this week by written by Henry Winter, the Daily Telegraph's football correspondent (England v Spain: let's play by Sepp Blatter's rules but still turn Wembley into a field of poppies).
It's the most bizarre article I have ever read. On the one hand Winter wants us to "ignore the John Bulls charging in blindly". On the other he wants the England football players to be encouraged to "express their admiration for the Armed Forces".
And if they don't?
I could go on but what's the point? There's only one word for Winter's tortured argument and that's 'poppycock'.