Incredibly, there was an outcry when the British anthem was jeered at during its performance at the Aviva Stadium when England was playing. Surely nothing surpasses the response of Liverpool’s supporters at Anfield on the day of King Charles III’s ascension to the throne last year. The noisy chorus of disapproval succeeded in overpowering the anthem just before Liverpool’s Premier League game commenced against Brentford, a few hours subsequent to Charles’ official enthroning.
David Maddock, the northern football reporter for the Daily Mirror, noted at the time on an unnamed social platform that the stadium-wide jeering was of such volume that he missed the anthem’s commencement. As reported by The Guardian in May 2023. Despite significant opposition, the club leadership declared they were following the request from the Premier League to play ‘God Save the King’ in keeping with the day’s events. Liverpool stated that the crowd’s reaction to the anthem was an individual decision.
In Ireland, personal choice is also a consideration, with manners not being a requirement. The Irish Constitution, Article 40.6. 1(i), secures the freedom to express oneself “within the bounds of public decency and order”. Irish footie fans chose to exercise this freedom at the Aviva just as rugby punters at Croke Park in 2007 chose to hold their tongues during ‘God Save the Queen’ at the Six Nations Championship.
This sparked a revival of a longstanding cultural conflict between the two sports, fuelling online discussions. Football was criticised as uncultured, compared to the more refined rugby. Belittling each other’s code of conduct and rules, the argument took over social media platforms.
Nonetheless, the disapproval from Irish supporters during ‘God Save the King’ didn’t go unnoticed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who suggested it seemed disrespectful. Indeed, that was the intent. Retaliation can be anticipated when England supporters meet again in Wembley Stadium on November 17th.
This should not be unexpected. In recent years, football stadiums have gradually echoed the voices of political and societal opinion, while the political landscape, in regards to tolerance for diverse perspectives, has plummeted towards more radical views. Nowadays, sports arenas across the globe serve as a haven for both collective expressions on social and political causes as well as a stage for emotional commitment to chosen football teams.
In the previous year, a band of Celtic followers, known as the Green Brigade, disregarded an appeal from the club and proceeded to fly Palestinian flags in a Champions League showdown against Spanish team Atletico Madrid. The club had made a request to refrain from showcasing any emblems, banners or flags related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Despite this, the Green Brigade filled the north curve of Celtic Park with their four colours – green, white, black and orange – affirming their unwavering conviction that football enthusiasts should have the liberty to exhibit political ideologies.
Indeed, there are certain aspects that necessitate caution. Significantly, as was experienced by the Aviva Stadium, such actions can lead to repercussions. The subsequent controversy led to a division among three sects of supporters – those who booed, those who chose not to and those supporting England. This resulted in a less than convivial atmosphere.
The act of provoking fans, fostering an antagonistic environment and affronting national esteem has consistently served as an ideal formula for tension. A hint of mortification might also be detected amidst the taunting from a considerable number of fans, perhaps even from Taoiseach Simon Harris who was in the VIP section alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The issue arises due to the tradition of playing a national anthem before a football game being considered intrinsically political, aimed at reminding spectators of certain customs, historical events and ideologies of the country and its inhabitants.
Serious implications could arise from such actions, as demonstrated by the irate reaction from the English press towards former Republic of Ireland player and temporary England manager Lee Carsley, when he declared he wouldn’t sing God Save the King. The Daily Mail criticised Carsley for his actions, with Jeff Powell MBE even suggesting his dismissal before his initial match. Some believe this incident may have been the catalyst in Dublin. It’s no secret that the media can express utter revulsion and grandiose entitlement all too well.
No doubt, the same critics would be irked by Bohemians – a club that prides itself on supporting myriad causes, weaving politics inextricably into the sporting fabric through symbols of Che Guevara, Palestinian colours and Refugees Welcome t-shirts. National anthems strive to achieve similar integration within the sport and its community, aiming to enhance the ceremonial aspect of each match. Yet, often political undertones are too prominent, turning an otherwise benign anthem into a flashpoint for offense.
The full exposure of ‘God Save the King’ in a stadium, where the fans, feeling emboldened, recognised it as their sole platform for unabashedly voicing their thoughts, is noteworthy. A simple solution, considering the regular occurrence and resulting offence of anthem disrespect, could be to completely eliminate them from football, essentially removing them from the spotlight. After all, who would then take offence? The political elites?
As long as they are purchasing tickets, supporters recognise their ownership of the stands and the freedom they possess to voice their displeasures. They feel entitled to jeer at ‘God Save the King’ if they so desire. If they’re reprimanded, their booing is likely to intensify both in decibels and duration.
This is within their rights. It’s a situation that football has inadvertently established, and no amount of longing will eradicate it.