"The whole idea of professional footballers embracing the poppy emblem to improve their tarnished profile is a shame." Ake, I criticise you from time to time for talking tripe (unlike some 'catters, I know you mean well, even though you frequently express it badly), but just this once, I'm going to call you names. As well as using a word I don't think you'll like. Possibly several times.

Stop being such an almighty fucking idiot. Who are you to say what professional footballers embrace? Who the fuck are you to pronounce on why they are wearing a poppy? Has it occurred to you that they might actually WANT to wear it? Be PROUD to wear it? Let's face it, Ake, footballers are regarded as being as thick as two short planks anyway. That makes them prime material to believe in small-minded jingoistic shit (if that's how anyone wants to regard poppy wearing). And what "tarnished image" are you talking about? In your eyes? You're fucking blind, pal!

I don't believe that the FA, the SFA, and WFA, are asking for this so that they can "force" players to wear a poppy. Not least because they are only asking for the same compromise that happened 5 years ago - armbands. Not poppies on the shirt, armbands. I don't believe that any of the footballers will be wearing it for any reason OTHER THAN that they wish to pay their respects (and also, perhaps, to be seen to do so).

I do think it is thoroughly undecent of you (and out of keeping with your general good nature) to suggest such a thing. Shame on you, Ake. Ya feckin eejit! ;-)