“This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland” : Lee Carsley on refusing to sing the England national anthem
Since many years, many English players and coaches have been scrutinized from time to time for failing to sing the national anthem ‘God Save the King’. England interim manager Lee Carsley was the latest to not sing the national anthem before the match.
The 50-year-old did not sing the national anthem even when he was a player for Ireland and continued the trend as England U-21 team manager up until now. The former Everton midfielder recently addressed this situation ahead of the UEFA Nations League clash against Ireland and revealed as to why this is the case.
“This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland, the gap between your warm-up, your coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So, it’s something that I have never done. I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off,” said Carsley.
“I was really focused on the football and I have taken that into coaching. We had the national anthem with the Under-21s also and I am in a zone at that point. I am thinking about how the opposition are going to set up and our first actions within the game. I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries. It’s something I am really respectful of,” the interim manager added.
Many fans have defended Carsley on this, including his former Irish teammate and now football pundit Roy Keane as well. The former Manchester United player said that it was not an issue back in his day and the main priority should be winning games.
“We’re talking about people losing their jobs because they don’t sing a national anthem. I played with him at Ireland and he didn’t sing it then and it wasn’t an issue then. The priority is to try and win football matches and that will take care of everything else,” said the 53-year-old.
“I’m serious about my work and I’m not singing before a game” : Gary Neville provides his take on not singing the national anthem
Meanwhile, Gary Neville previously revealed he did not sing the national anthem to prove a point to FA Chairman George Thompson in 1995, who told him he ‘must’ sing it.
“I didn’t sing it the first time I played for England, partly because I thought, I’m serious about my work and I’m not singing before a game. He [Thompson] only ever sought out one conversation with me. Did he want to pick my brains on World Cup preparation? Or ask how the FA could help behind the scenes? No, Mr Thompson wanted to know why I didn’t sing the National Anthem. I’m not being told by some suits what to do,” the football pundit firmly explained.
Apart from Carsley and Neville, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold also refused to sing the anthem in a Nations League clash against Hungary in 2022, where they eventually lost. The right-back received criticism back then as well.
Wayne Rooney before receiving the captain’s armband also did not sing the anthem and faced a lot of criticism; but to his luck, an FA spokesperson addressed this situation back in 2012 and said it is not compulsory for a player to sing the national anthem.
“Whether a player wishes to sing the national anthem or not is purely a personal choice,” said by an FA spokesperson 12 years ago.
Although, in the recently ended Euros, all English players sang the anthem before the games, it seems like singing or not singing is purely a matter of choice and the FA would not mind the latter. But the coaches and players should be ready to face the consequences and scrutiny the media and fans will reflect on them later on.
