Thursday 3 November 2016 11:46, UK
Stuart Pearce is not convinced the wearing of poppies should be seen as anything other than an act of remembrance and feels FIFA will back down and allow England and Scotland to wear them at Wembley.
Both national teams are preparing to defy world football's governing body by wearing black armbands featuring poppies on when they meet in a World Cup Qualifier on November 11.
The issue is likely to be discussed by football's lawmakers on Thursday when the International Football Association Board members hold their annual meeting at Wembley Stadium.
FIFA regard the poppy as a political symbol but the football associations of both countries are willing to accept any punishment.
FIFA relented when a similar situation arose in 2011 and allowed England players to wear poppies in a game against Spain, with Pearce expecting a similar outcome on this occasion.
"I don't see it as a political symbol, I think it is solely remembrance of people who have fought and died to keep us free," Pearce told Sky Sports Now.
"With the England v Scotland game falling on that day, which is such a high-profile game whenever it takes place in our sporting calendar, I think it will be real shame if we go into the game and mark that day under a slight cloud.
"I think somewhere down the line, FIFA will back away from this one.
"We also have two nations taking part in this game that are both of a similar mind. It is not as if one nation wants to wear a poppy and the other nation is suggesting 'this is against what we believe in'.
"You have two nations, in a football match, who are absolutely saying we are of the same mentality on this one."
