NORTH-EAST war veterans last night branded international football chiefs a “disgrace” for banning the England team from wearing poppies on their shirts.

The Football Association (FA) will hold further talks with Fifa this week over a ruling which stops England from displaying the Armistice Day emblem on their kit when they play Spain at Wembley on Saturday - the day before Remembrance Sunday.

The decision was yesterday condemned by 91-year-old Len Davies, originally from Stockton and one of the North-East's two surviving Battle of Britain pilots.

He said: "I read about it in the paper and I thought it was absolutely ridiculous, a case of sticking to the rules with no real thought.

“I hope they'll change their mind. I thought there'd be such an outcry that they'd have to.”

Former soldier Alasdair MacConachie, chairman of the Independent Advisory Panel at Catterick Garrison's Infantry Training Centre and a regular at Darlington Football Club, called on the FA to reject Fifa’s “interference”.

He said: “What on earth do Fifa think they are doing? I think it’s an absolute disgrace.

“Poppies are designed to help people in need. The fact that Fifa is objecting is unbelievable. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

The decision was also criticised by Anne Robson, chairman of Willington Community Action, who organises Remembrance Day services in the south Durham town.

Ms Robson, who is welfare officer for Willington Youth Football, said: “We all enjoy football, but without the sacrifice made by these men and women, would we be playing the sport with such freedom now?”

Major Bob Jones, president of the Darlington branch of the Royal British Legion who regularly attends schools in the town to talk to pupils about the significance and importance of poppies, added: “I think there should be a poppy on the shirts - it’s very important.”

Vera Parnaby, 72, from Consett, County Durham, has been collecting money for the Poppy Appeal for 58 years.

Her father, George, died during the Second World War and her uncle, Benny Craig, served while playing for Newcastle United.

She said: “A lot of soldiers are losing their lives for their country and are being maimed for life.

“Why shouldn’t the England team be allowed to support them?”

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday programme at the weekend, Hartlepool-born television presenter Jeff Stelling urged the FA to disobey Fifa’s ruling and send the team out on Saturday with poppies on their shirts.

“It’s a disgrace and something we cannot accept,” he added.

Adrian Bevington, managing director of Club England and originally from Middlesbrough, said talks would continue with Fifa on the issue this week.

He tweeted: "FA and England team want to wear poppies. A week to go to game. Further conversations this week. Fully respect the importance of the poppy."

The FA said the squad would wear poppies on their kit on Armistice Day when they train at Wembley ahead of the match.

The special training kit will then be auctioned for charity.

A spokesman for Fifa said the organisation acknowledged the significance of the Poppy Appeal.

However, he added: “Fifa’s regulations regarding players equipment are that they should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages.

“Fifa has 208 Member Associations and the same regulations are applied globally, and uniformly, in the event of similar requests by other nations to commemorate historical events.”

The governing body added that a minutes silence would be held prior to kick-off on Saturday.

The Poppy Appeal is run by the Royal British Legion to raise money for veterans and serving soldiers in need of help.

It raised £36m in 2010 and is hoping to reach £40m this year.

The charity said it was grateful for the support it enjoyed from the sporting community, but never sought to impose itself in these situations.