Why Lee Carsley s Refusal to Sing God Save the King is Dividing Fans

Lee Carsley, England’s interim manager, has no plans to sing the British national song before his first game in charge against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Liga B. MD 1 – Ireland, 17:00

England, September 7th.
Hayters Pressbox Logo
Loading official content:
Carsley said that he never sang the national song while playing for the Republic of Ireland or coaching the England Under-21s. And the 50-year-old, who succeeded Gareth Southgate as England manager while the Football Association looks for a permanent replacement, is expected to continue that philosophy at the Aviva Stadium.

According to former Everton player Carsley, who played 40 times for Ireland, Saturday’s Nations League opening will be a “proud moment for myself and my family”. However, singing “God Save the King” before kickoff is not on Carsley’s agenda, as he prefers to concentrate on his tactics in the closing moments before the game.

“This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland,” the England-born Carsley told reporters on Friday. “The time between your warm-up and arrival on the pitch, as well as the anthem delay. So this is something I’ve never done before.

“I was always really focused on the game and my initial acts in it. During that time, I was very concerned about my mind straying. We sang the national anthem alongside the Under-21s, and I was in a zone at that time.

“I’m thinking about how the opponent will set up and our first acts in the game. I completely respect both anthems and recognise how important they are to both countries. I hold a high regard for it.