Lee Carsley 1-0 England Royalists: God Save the King

England claimed a healthy 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland to open their UEFA Nations League campaign and take the driver’s seat in Group F. However, the most pressing issue for some fans seemed to be Lee Carsley’s refusal to sing the national anthem.

England’s interim manager Carsley became the first temporary coach to win his maiden Three Lions match. The 50-year-old chose an exciting starting line-up, and the XI delivered scintillating performances en route to a routine victory.

However, a ludicrously benign matter overshadowed the promising win. Carsley has Irish ancestry and refused to sing God Save the King before kick-off. He was born in Birmingham but represented Ireland during his playing career through his grandmother, who is from County Cork.

Unsurprisingly, for a nation that loves to major in the minor, his refusal to sing the national anthem became an issue for royalists.

The former Everton midfielder reiterated that he never sang the Irish anthem while representing the Irish national team and didn’t sing the British one either when leading the England Under-21 side, as he was too focused on the games.

His explanation was not enough to quell the raging royalists insisting he belt out the anthem.

The same set of fans had jumped on Wayne Rooney and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s backs for not singing the anthem ahead of games.

Thankfully, according to reports, Carsely’s refusal to sing the anthem won’t hinder his chances of taking the job permanently.

The argument that Carsley, a man with Irish ancestry, should be compelled to sing the English national anthem is both misguided and disrespectful.

His decision not to sing does not reflect a lack of patriotism or loyalty to England. It is a personal choice that should be respected.

The issue is not with Carsley but with a segment of fans who seem more interested in enforcing rigid traditions than supporting the team.

Instead of wasting time on petty squabbles, fans should celebrate the team’s victory and the promising performances of players like Anthony Gordon, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, and Jack Grealish.

It is time for royalists to put aside their misplaced outrage and focus on what really matters – supporting the England team and enjoying the beautiful game.