England interim manager Lee Carsley will not sing the national anthem before the Nations League match against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Carsley says he never sang anthems during his playing days either, preferring to stay focused on the game.
He explained that the gap between the warm-up and kickoff distracted him, so he used the time to focus on his first actions in the match.
Carsley emphasized that he respects both the English and Irish anthems.
Carsley’s stance is not unique. Similar instances include Gary Neville, who refrained from singing ‘God Save the Queen’ during Euro 1996.
Like Carsley, Neville emphasized his focus on the game, viewing the pre-match anthem as a distraction.
German footballer Mesut Ozil also made headlines in 2018 when he explained that he preferred to pray during the anthem, seeking strength for the match ahead.
The debate over anthem-singing isn’t confined to football.
Dublin-born cricketer Eoin Morgan chose not to partake in anthem-singing for personal reasons, sparking mixed reactions.
Despite occasional criticism, many players focus on their performance rather than pre-match rituals like singing the anthem.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
