- FA tonight said they will defy FIFA's ban on poppies during Scotland game
- England and Scotland could now face fines or even points deductions
- PM Theresa May had described decision by FIFA as 'utterly outrageous'
- FA chairman Greg Clarke insisted 'there will be poppies' at Wembley
- Decision comes after official enforcing the ban - Fatma Samoura - claimed 'Britain is not only country that has been suffering from the result of war'
England and Scotland footballers will wear the poppy during their Armistice Day clash in defiance of an 'utterly outrageous ban' imposed by world football chiefs.
Amid mounting public fury over an attempt by FIFA to stop the national team honouring the war dead next Friday, both sides tonight took the unprecedented step of announcing they would ignore attempts to suppress them.
The world football governing body's rules prohibit political, religious or commercial messages on shirts.
But the FA said the poppy did not fit any of those categories and will therefore flout FIFA's rules.
The decision comes after the FIFA official enforcing the ban - Senegalese bureaucrat Fatma Samoura - claimed 'Britain is not the only country that has been suffering from the result of war'.
FA bosses have said they will defy FIFA's ban on poppies at Remembrance Day by wearing black armbands with with poppies on (similar to in 2011, pictured right)
Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn said both FAs will defy the ban and accept any punishment.
Both teams have decided to follow the same path as 2011 when England players wore armbands with the poppy symbol during a match against Spain.
Mr Glenn told the BBC the FA's legal position is watertight and FIFA had misinterpreted the regulations.
Shortly after, the Scottish FA said it intended to 'pay appropriate tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice' by having players wearing black armbands bearing poppies.
FIFA general secretary Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura said 'any kind of sanction' could now follow.
This could include hefty fines or even a points deduction in their bids to reach the World Cup in Russia.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Theresa May condemned FIFA over the 'utterly outrageous' ban, telling the scandal-hit body to get its own house in order before telling others what to do.
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura claimed 'Britain is not the only country that has been suffering from the result of war'
Samoura was brought in by new FIFA president Gianni Infantino despite question marks over whether she had the experience for the job
FA chairman Greg Clarke had also insisted 'there will be poppies at Wembley'.
He said: 'We're balancing respect for the fallen and their families. We're negotiating in good faith with FIFA to try and find a solution'.
However in a sneering attack earlier today, FIFA's newly appointed Secretary General Samoura said: 'Britain is not the only country that has been suffering from the result of war.
'Syria is an example.
My own continent has been torn by war for years.
And the only question is why are we doing exceptions for just one country and not the rest of the world?
'When asked if the teams could be punished for defying the ban, she said: 'It is not really my ambition to punish anybody.
They just have to recognise themselves that they are part of the rules of the game and they should be ready to face any kind of sanctions or measures.'
Samoura is expected to meet representatives from the English FA at Wembley tomorrow and may also be involved in talks with both the Scottish and Welsh FAs.
Samoura, a married mother-of-three, sparked anger among some in FIFA when she was parachuted into the £1million-a-year role by the organisation's new Swiss president Gianni Infantino in May.
She was handed the Secretary General position despite having no real experience in handling sport, having previously worked in a humanitarian role at the UN.
The 54-year-old's appointment came as FIFA desperately tried to rescue its damaged reputation, after a number of former officials were arrested on corruption charges and former president Sepp Blatter was placed under criminal investigation.
There was also widespread anger at the organisation for awarding the 2022 World Cup to the tiny oil-rich country of Qatar amid allegations of bribery.
Appointing Samoura to the role, Infantino insisted she understood 'transparency and accountability' and praised her 'experience and vision'.
England players (in 2011) with poppies on their shirts - they will do so again next Friday
Samoura, who has a degree in English and Spanish from the University of Lyon, started working for the UN's Food Programme in 1995.
She was later sent around the world to work for the organisation before becoming a humanitarian administrator in Nigeria.
The English and Scottish FA will now find out what sanction they can expect having chosen to flout the ban on poppies.
Separately, the FA of Wales has also written to FIFA requesting permission to wear poppies on armbands during their game against Serbia in Cardiff on 12 November.
Samoura has previously worked in administrative roles for the UN
Responding to the row at Prime Minister's Questions today, Theresa May tore into football's governing body.
She said: 'I think the stance that has been taken by FIFA is utterly outrageous.
'Our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives for our safety and security. I think it is absolutely right that they should be able to do so.'
And in a direct message to world football's governing body, which has been plagued by corruption allegations, she said: 'Before they start telling us what to do, they jolly well ought to sort their own house out.'
Responding to that, Samoura said: 'I would just ask anybody to refrain from political interference.'
Former RAF pilot and prisoner of war John Nichol, who set up the petition, said: 'The poppy is not a political statement at all. It could not be further from a political statement.
'It is a statement of remembrance and an acknowledgement of sacrifice from the First World War right through to the sacrifices of our young men and women today.'
In Parliament today, PM Theresa May branded the poppy ban 'utterly outrageous'
Mr Nichol said many service personnel were football fans, and the match was an opportunity for the country to show 'how much we as a society care about the work these heroes do'.
He added: 'No-one should ever be banned from wearing a poppy and it brings shame on FIFA that they continue to propagate this misunderstanding of our heritage.'
Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons Sports Committee, said the ban was insulting to British fans.
England's rugby and cricket teams are facing no opposition from their world governing bodies over wearing poppies on the shirts for their next internationals during the Remembrance period in November honouring the war dead.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'I hope common sense prevails. FIFA has strict rules banning political, religious or commercial symbols from shirts. I think it is insulting to people in this country to say a poppy is one of those sort of symbols.
'Someone has shared with me on social media an Ireland football shirt that has a special embroidery on marking the centenary of the Easter Rising.
'FIFA allow that, so I think people will find it astonishing that the poppy's not allowed.'
Fans are furious that the ban will prevent the players from remembering the war dead
Condemning FIFA's stance, former culture, media, and sport secretary John Whittingdale told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'For them to try and brand the poppy as a political symbol shows a total misunderstanding, and I think there are a number of reasons why we are already profoundly unhappy with FIFA's behaviour and conduct and this adds to that list.'
Asked if the teams should risk a points loss, Mr Whittingdale replied: 'Yes.'
A FIFA spokesman told MailOnline: 'FIFA fully respects the significance of commemorating Remembrance Day . The relevant Law 4 clearly states that the players should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages.
'The laws are applied uniformly in the event of similar requests by any member association to commemorate similar historical events.'
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