September 7th 2024.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has joined the discussion surrounding Lee Carsley's decision not to sing the national anthem. Lee Carsley, the caretaker manager of the England football team, chose to stand in silence while his players sang God Save the King before their match against the Republic of Ireland. This was in line with Carsley's personal practice throughout his career and was his first time leading the team following Gareth Southgate's departure.
In the lead up to the match, Prime Minister Starmer shared his view that singing the national anthem should be a personal choice for Carsley and for any individual. He also mentioned that he himself would be singing the anthem, but that during the game, he and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) would suspend their "reset" of relations between the UK and Ireland and support their respective teams.
Carsley's decision not to sing was not an uncommon one, as even Ireland's manager Heimir Hallgrimsson also did not sing their national anthem, Amhran na bhFiann. However, all of the England players appeared to sing along despite the boos from the home fans, and many of the traveling supporters also chanted throughout the Irish anthem.
In an interview before the game, Carsley explained his reasoning for not singing, citing the gap between the warm-up and the delayed start of the match as a distraction. He also mentioned that his focus has always been on the game and his first actions on the pitch, a mindset that he has carried into his coaching career.
Prime Minister Starmer, who was on his first official visit to Dublin, was asked for his thoughts on the issue and he expressed his support for singing the national anthem. However, he also acknowledged that it is a personal decision and that during the game, he will be fully focused on cheering his team on. When asked if he was concerned about Carsley's choice, Starmer replied that he knows what he will be doing and will be singing and cheering for the team.
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