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TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN said fans at the Ireland v England game at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday should have paid respect to God Save the King.
The English national anthem was widely booed as it was played before kick-off and Martin today told reporters he “wasn’t happy with it”.
England won the UEFA Nations League fixture by two goals, both of which came from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
Both players represented Ireland earlier in their careers before switching allegiance to England and Rice and Grealish were also booed by some Irish supporters.
Speaking in Newry, Co Down this morning, Martin said: “I think when we’re hosting any country in the world, we should pay respect to their anthem, just as they should pay respect to our anthem.
“But the vast, vast majority of fans did pay respect, but you get that, it’s football.
“And I thought overall the match was played in a wonderful atmosphere, there was a very happy atmosphere in the Aviva.”
He added that it was a “happy occasion” and that “it was good to have the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and indeed Hilary Benn (Northern Ireland Secretary) at the match as well”.
“We had a good night,” said Martin.
On the game at the weekend, Martin remarked that “there was some very good football played and we could have had one or two”.
He also praised the performance of fellow Cork native Chiedozie Ogbene, adding: “He actually played with my GAA club when he was a young fella, so we’ve a particular interest in his fortunes and he’s done very well with the green shirt on.”
Meanwhile, anthems also dominated the pre-match build-up to Saturday’s game, with current England manager and former Republic of Ireland player Lee Carsley stating that he would not sing either national anthem.
Carsley said he “always struggled” with the anthems as a player and coach because he is “always really focused on the game” and “found that in that period I was wary of my mind wandering off”.
His comments provoked a backlash in Saturday’s English papers, most notably in the Daily Telegraph where chief football correspondent Jason Burt argued that “if Carsley doesn’t sing [the] anthem, he can’t expect to manage England”.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail’s front-page splash described “disbelief and anger” at Carsley’s position, while journalist Jeff Powell branded it a “betrayal”.
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Hold on it went both ways
The English fans booed our anthem
@nollaig o cellaigh: And he said so: “They should respect our anthem”.
@nollaig o cellaigh: two wrongs don’t make a right. Everyone knows English fans are one of the worst in the world. There should be no need for Irish fans to reduce themselves to their level.
@nollaig o cellaigh: Hard to take any of this serious when our own dyed in the green wool, gaelic warriors can’t stand still to the end of their own national anthem and the watching crowd interuptes 10 seconds from the end every time.
@Stanley Marsh: it’s tradition. All those who can’t sing it, wait for the cheer at (nearly) the end of it.
I think some Tipperary lad shouted at the ref once : throw in the f****ng ball and get out of the f****ng way.
@nollaig o cellaigh: Yeah but don’t mind that. Let some of their fans show themselves up as yobs or whatever. Thats their problem. Booing another anthem is just pathetic and shows a lack of intelligence. On the field is where you are supposed to stick it to them but we were well outclassed unfortunately.
@nollaig o cellaigh: no they didnt. I was there. It was embarrassing
@yourname: irish are worse now
Soccer yobs….to be expected.
@Padraic Burke: Typical D4, rugger loving, heino drinking, ignorant view…to be expected.
@Stephen Heffernan: he’s not wrong though.
@Stephen Heffernan: he’s spot on though
@Padraic Burke: Egg chaser no doubt!
@reg morrisey: check out GAA matches. The abuse of opposition, the booing, catcalling unparalleled.
@damien leen: The rugger lads have worse problems, mainly with consent
@Alan: Quick look ! over there at them -> look at them..not here
@Stephen Heffernan: He’s had to contradict though ,but by all means the floor is yours.
@Stephen Heffernan: Typical soccer yob comment.
@Padraic Burke:
Just the Celtic jersey wearing numb nuts who turned up for the game.
Might I suggest Mr Martin and his colleagues focus on respecting the Irish people and their needs?
@Athena: and so say all of us
Nothing to do with martin. Especially with his history which he likes to forget
@Seamus Flynn: its everything to do with him and every other person on this island.
People should have some respect on both sides.
@Seamus Flynn: as the Tanaiste he represents the country, so I think it does. What’s his history?
@Seamus Flynn: He doesn’t like forget it, he likes to white wash it, the Tan and the British army were actually the good guys and we should have appreciated and been a subservient people
@Brian D’Arcy:
You forgot to mention the famine.
Always mention the famine
There’s always been a difference between the rugby supporters and the soccer fans…
@St. Mary’s Special School: People who follow rugby don’t even know the rules
@St. Mary’s Special School: not everyone who follows soccer is a thug. You shouldn’t paint everyone with the same brush
@gav0kelly: Laws.
@gav0kelly: speak for yourself only gav
@St. Mary’s Special School: education mostly.
@Jb Walshe: I follow it , but I definitely know more about the rules than all the bandwagon supporters
@gav0kelly: I don’t follow it*
@gav0kelly: no rules in rugby, we have laws in rugby…
@St. Mary’s Special School: yeah, the rugby crowd spend their time in the bar, going to the bar or coming from the bar. More atmosphere on the moon than at a rugby match. Plus they sing Irelands Call, a song which makes God Save The King sound like high art.
@St. Mary’s Special School: Around 100k a year .
@St. Mary’s Special School: 1 has a brain, the other 2 rectums
It is not a good idea to tell a person who they should respect. One should have the right not to respect someone you do not respect. Having said that you can show your disrespect respectfully
@Oh Mammy: A national anthem is not a person.
@Brendan O’Brien: you are a bell end. I will not respect something solely on the basis you present. Mind your own business.
@Oh Mammy: you’ve taken this from Waterford whispers…I hope
@yourname: I will not be told who to respect.
@Oh Mammy: you go girl
@Oh Mammy: You do like the word respect tbh
It’s called class. Football fans in every country around the globe find it difficult to show respect for their opponent’s anthem.
Fortunately, it’s quite rare in rugby and you only have to go back to that famous match in the early 70s when England came to play rugby whilst Scotland and Wales stayed home.We gave the boys in white a rousing welcome.
Then we beat them!
@Ian Forbes: your perception is one of a brush with a broad stroke
Not all of us are thugs. In fact the majority aren’t. People who stereotype all football fans and look down their nose at people they don’t know based on incidents from minorities aren’t exactly somebody to aspire to be like either
@Ian Forbes: The captain (Pullman?) said in his speech at the post-match dinner (ah, those were the days!) “We may not be very good, but at least we turn up!” English Rugby has been respected here ever since that day.
@Ian Forbes: I will always have great respect for the English who made the trip that year. The Welsh and Scots were too afraid :D
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Has it? , I would disagree
Westbrit
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: He’s Welsh, I didn’t know that.
Sure even the English manager wouldnt sing that tripe
I think people have long since given up on what the likes of mehole has to say
@David Bergin: Talking through your rear end again.
@David Bergin: you’re right – you talk a lot of shïte alright
@UK Hurling Bloke: He is right though, not a word out of his gob can you believe.
It was embarrassing and cringe that they booed their national anthem.doesnt matter if english fans booed ours everyone knows they are low life yobs, there was no need to copy them..anyone who booed their national anthem should be embarrassed with themselves they let the country down.
I fully agree with Micheal on this
@Fintan Pox: who cares
FF is turned into a very dark shade of blue
Does this happen at international rugby matches?? I don’t think so,
@Ned: No passion from the west brits at games
Micheál Martin, leader of FF the sleeveen Nato party, is embarrassed by anything that might upset his chums.
Wouldn’t sing any Colonial anthem.
No anthem no problem …. Get rid of it. What happens on the pitch is all that matters.
@Peter B (V Eight): or simplier still, people could have some respect.
The english at the euros were a disgrace they booed every one else.s anthem they have some neck givibg out !! Good enuff for them they hate payback !
Stating the obvious but it’s not 2007 anymore. Hate, being amplified online leads to this kind of behaviour.
It’s such a pity to see this when respect and maturity were shown in Croke Park back then considering the terrible history in that place.
Nope, they boo our and indeed pretty much every national anthem. Not showing any respect for them. Wasn’t at the match in fairness but I’d have boo’d if I was
It was a disgrace from the Irish. They were lucky not have the place smashed up again,.antagonising the English.
@Basildon Joe: That’s some quality trolling.
@Brendan O’Brien: sore loser
@Basildon Joe: I think you lost this exchange.
@Brendan O’Brien: I think you should stop following me around here like a bad smell that you are.
Why should we do what mehole says another way of trying to bully people
@Noel: I definitely wouldn’t do what your rear end says.
Booing and roaring at Rice and Grealish too with their Arsenal and City tops in the wash baskets at home.
@biggybald: exactly. They are hypocrite pea brains
Almost 800 years of trying to stamp out IRISH identity and culture and that sap apologizes for the Irish fans/people having a problem with having to listen and/or respect their war song ?????????????
@Michael James Brennan: The irony – complaining about 800 years of oppression and then justifying freely aping the obnoxious behaviour of the said oppressor.
@Michael James Brennan: get over it, dinosaur
How about some respect for the irish taxpayers who keep the refugees and the Ukrainian people with roofs over their head.
Expect nothing better from soccer. Ban the hateful game.
@ian: Sap
Tanaiste should respect England’s report on Grenfel fire!
Bate em with batons like the last time they wrecked the place
I’d respect the British anthem more if they changed it to “Hey God, why didn’t you save our Queen”
Booing is deplorable and puerile, but it is ubiquitous in football ( soccer). It is all part of the tribalism and confrontationalism that tarnishes the game worldwide. To give one example, it does not occur in Rugby Union. I won’t repeat what Oscar Wilde said about soccer and rugby, respectively!!
@James Hanley: Oscar who ?
It’s to be expected of the Irish knuckle draggers
The truth no one in Europe wants anymore Irish tourists, as they bring the same level of rudeness as happened on Saturday.
@Chris: Are you high?
@Chris: some truth there. Irish are turning into the new brits abroad
And the English singing f*** the Was okay? Or should we all sing that together too?
@Ned Tallywhacker:
And the celtic jersey wearers
Chanting Lisie’s in a box.
I’m glad England beat us
@Fintan Pox: You really are very needy are you? Sad attempts at trolling
The English fa asked the English supporters not to sing anything about the ira .and what did they in the avia NO SURRENDER TO THE IRA .PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON MORONS
@Glen Kelly: I did not hear this chant. There were no English hooligans in attendance, only crusty scarfers.
@Basildon Joe: I was at the match and they were singing it .I don’t know what heard .
@Glen Kelly: I definitely didn’t hear it but I watched it on TV
@Basildon Joe: well I think you need hearing aid they definitely sang it .I was right there .
up the Ra
Only degenerates on both sides booing.
Totally agree
lol
That happened on both sides, when the opponents’ national anthems were being played and sung.
Not very mature behaviour if I may say so
Racist Irish football fans…and plenty of them.
I dont sing anthems because i can’t sing
Respect is earned.
It’ll always be god save the queen for me
Chavball strikes again.
First time I’ve agreed with him.
It shows the Irish supporters as sad little minded begrudgers
have your say