England interim manager Lee Carsley risked fan fury again by refusing to sing the national anthem ahead of the Three Lions’ Nations League clash against Finland at Wembley on Tuesday.
Carsley, who was appointed England boss on an interim basis following Gareth Southgate’s exit after Euro 2024, began his Three Lions tenure with controversy after revealing that he would not sing God Save the King ahead of his first match in charge against Ireland, whom he represented as a player between 1997 and 2008.
Several fans vented their fury at Carsley’s decision, branding the Birmingham-born boss an ’embarrassment’ and calling for him to be sacked despite England cruising to a 2-0 win against the Irish, courtesy of goals from Jack Grealish and Declan Rice.
Carsley, who represented the Republic of Ireland 40 times at senior international level, had been in charge of England’s U21s since 2021 before taking on the role of interim manager.
England interim manager Lee Carsley chose not to sing the national anthem again at Wembley
His England stars belted out the national anthem as they prepared for their match with Finland
Carsley sparked a furore by revealing that he would not sing God Save the King during his first match in charge of England against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last Saturday
Despite the national anthem controversy, the 50-year-old manager triumphed 2-0 over Ireland
The 2-0 win over Ireland marked a positive start for Carsley in what is being viewed as his six-game trial ahead of potentially being promoted to the senior England job permanently.
Before the Nations League clash in Dublin, Carsley insisted he would be too focused on the game to sing the national anthem, which was loudly booed by the home supporters.
‘This (singing the anthem) is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland,’ Carsley said last Friday.
‘The gap between your warm-up, you’re 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.
‘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.’
Former England international Mark Wright claimed before the Ireland match last week that he ‘doesn’t understand where Carsley is coming from’.
In his piece for Mail Sport, Wright said it felt patriotic to sing the national anthem during his 45 cap international career.
He drew a comparison to the pride shown by Carsley’s predecessor Gareth Southgate in singing the national anthem, stating that ‘deep down supporters want an English manager who will sing the anthem as proudly as any of his players.’
‘You have to accept the stance other people take, but ideally it would be better if everybody showed their feelings to the country, including the manager,’ Wright wrote.
Birmingham-born Carsley represented the Republic of Ireland at senior international level
Carsley (centre) had previously not sung the anthem as head coach of the England Under-21s
The manager led the England’s Under-21s to the European Championship title last summer
‘That’s what I believe. It is a touchy subject in this day and age. We are all built differently.
‘Maybe Lee doesn’t want to show disrespect for the Republic of Ireland team he once played for.
‘He took a stance because he thought he wouldn’t get a chance in the England set-up as a player, and in life you have to respect other people’s decisions.’
Ahead of Saturday’s match, Roy Keane, who played alongside Carsley for Ireland, was asked about his thoughts on the matter during the pre-match coverage on ITV.
‘Welcome to the reality of being manager of England,’ Keane said.
But the Manchester United legend defended his fellow countryman Carsley and believed results would quiet the anthem storm.
‘It is unfair, of course it is,’ he added.
‘The priority is to try and win football matches and that will take care of everything else. He’s come through the youth teams, this is senior and there’s huge pressure. Huge demands.
‘He played for Ireland, he never sung it with the U21’s, it wasn’t an issue then.’
Former England international Ian Wright shared a similar stance, labelling the anthem fiasco a ‘storm in a teacup’.
‘I really do feel for him in that respect,’ Wright said.
Roy Keane (left) and Ian Wright (right) defended Carsley’s decision not to sing the anthem
‘There’s already pressure on him. The fact is you are going to be judged on the results. When you look at the chance he’s got to get it, he’s focused on the football side.
‘As a football person he’s probably trying to think about what he’s doing, not realising it’s a massive thing for other people.’
