IT'S the poignant symbol of remembrance.

Tonight Saints star James Ward Prowse will lead the football's defiant stance against a bid to ban players from wearing a poppy on their shirt.

The midfielder is captain of the England Under 21 side who play Italy at St Mary's in a friendly tonight.

the Football Association are set to defy world football's governing body FIFA by wearing poppies during the match in the city, despite the threat of heavy sanctions.

FIFA has publicly refused cries to allow the national team to don the flower on their kit as a mark of respect to fallen war heroes, insisting their laws prohibit political messages to be displayed.

But the Football Association will tonight disregard the ruling and display the poignant image on black armbands during the friendly match with Italy at St Mary's Stadium – something England previously did against Spain in 2012, with no issue.

And the side will be led out by Ward-Prowse.

Other Saints players Nathan Redmond and Jack Stephens will take to the pitch wearing the poppies, a day before their senior colleagues will do the same at Wembley in their World Cup qualifying clash with Scotland.

However, the senior squad could face a fine or even a points deduction.

Nevertheless, former Southampton manager and ex member of the England management set up Lawrie McMenemy said the governing body has got it wrong.

"The trouble is, the rule has come from the highest level and what (FIFA) don't realise is that it affects not just the British countries, but also everyone else as well," he said.

"Normally you would expect rules to be obeyed, but I am happy that the players are going to go ahead with it because it means so much to everybody here and it is on the day that matters and that is the main point!

Questioning FIFA's ruling, he added: "If it was just one of the countries objecting then that is a different matter, but when both sides (England and Scotland) want to do something, what is the problem?

"For me there is no problem and it is just going to upset the crowds– it is not like the poppies are four foot wide, it is just a small mark of respect but it means so much."

However, the former England assistant manager, a role which saw him take charge of the nation's U21 side in the early 1990s, thinks the resulting punishment will be light.

"We should just get on with it and then the authorities will have to consider the punishment. I think it will just be a slap on the wrist and then it will all blow over – I don't think FIFA understands how much it means to us here.

"Football, more than any other industry, is about tradition and history and that is why they are commemorating the history of the countries. Football took a big part in the wars, it is something that pulls families and players together and we should continue to do that and get that message through to the people that made this rule.

"(If I was speaking to FIFA) I think I would say that this is different that what the rule was made for; it is not offending anybody.

"I do not think anybody, even the Germans Football Association, would raise any objection. Common sense should prevail."

However, Mr McMenemy, who lives in Braishfield, added: "I think too much fuss has been made of this one; if they had quietly turned out with the poppies on then it would probably not have got an added mention, but because it was talked about so early it has given the authorities the time to say 'well that's the rule'."

In regards to the decision made by the FA, a spokesperson said: "We fully respect the laws of the game and take our founding role on the International Football Association Board extremely seriously.

"The poppy is an important symbol of remembrance and we do not believe it represents a political, religious or commercial message, nor does it relate to any one historical event."

England U21's friendly against Italy kicks off at 7.45pm tonight, with England's senior squad facing off against Scotland at the same time on tomorrow.