Why do Liverpool fans boo the national anthem?
Posted by  badge Boss on May 06, 2023 - 05:21PM
Fans have a history with the national anthem (Picture: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

There are lots of celebrations taking place this weekend to celebrate the Coronation of III.

From , to street parties and the ceremony at itself, there is plenty going on to mark the occasion this bank holiday weekend.

The coronation will also be marked at all the games over the long weekend from Saturday May 5 to May 7.

Clubs have been advised to play God Save the King before kick-off of each game, however it is not compulsory.

One club that will play the anthem is Liverpool FC, with the decision taking many by surprise, seeing as fans booed when God Save The Queen was played ahead of the  final in.

It will be played ahead of their game against Brentford at Anfield on Saturday, May 6, with the club making the decision despite knowing that fans may well keep up their tradition of responding with a chorus of boos rather than the lyrics.

Here is everything you need to know about why Liverpool supporters aren’t a fan of God Save The King…

Why do Liverpool fans boo the national anthem?

Liverpool fans booing the national anthem first became widespread in the 1980s as a protest towards Margaret Thatcher’s conservative government.

During that time the conservative party were indifferent to addressing the industrial decline that had gripped Merseyside.

During this period the city was grappling with severe unemployment and poverty, with the government even cutting public services.

Fans booed the anthem during the 1986 FA Cup final, where they beat Merseyside rival Everton 3-1 (Picture: David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images)

In 2011 official papers  that Margaret Thatcher was encouraged to employ an approach of ‘managed decline’ to the city, which effectively meant withdrawing resources from the area in a bid to get people to leave.

Coronation of King Charles III latest

The historic Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place in Westminster Abbey today (May 6).

For all the latest royal updates, visit .

The feeling of abandonment from the government has led to the city and the fans feeling a sense of disconnect to the rest of the country, with banners reading ‘Scouse not English’ often seen among the crowds at Anfield.

The also fed into the resentment felt by the people of the city towards the state, as former Conservative MP Irvine Patnick was one of the sources who contributed to The Sun’s controversial coverage that blamed Liverpool fans for the tragic event.

97 football fans died as a result of the Hillsborough football stadium disaster (Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

After being revealed as one of the sources in 2012, : ‘I would like to put on the record how appalled and shocked I was to discover the extent of the deceit and cover-up surrounding these events.

‘It is now clear that the information I received from some police officers at the time was wholly inaccurate, misleading and plain wrong. However, I totally accept responsibility for passing such information on without asking further questions.

‘So, many years after this tragic event, I am deeply and sincerely sorry for the part I played in adding to the pain and suffering of the victims’ families.’

What has Jurgen Klopp said about booing the national anthem?

Following the decision by the club to go ahead and play the national anthem this weekend, LFC manager

‘This is definitely a subject I cannot really have a proper opinion about because I am from Germany. we don’t have a King or a Queen’ he said.

‘I have no experience with that. Watching from the outside it’s a nice thing to watch when all the weddings are massive things in Germany but it’s like watching a movie because we don’t feel that.

Klopp addressed the decision at a pre-match press conference (Picture: Liverpool FC)

‘I’m pretty sure a lot of people in this country will enjoy the coronation but others will not be interested and some will not like it.

‘I think that’s all I can say, and the rest my position is the club’s position.’

The club’s statement on the decision reads: ‘Just over a week ago, the Premier League contacted all home clubs and strongly suggested to mark this historic occasion across home matches this weekend and provided a list of activity for clubs to get involved in’,”‘ Liverpool said on its website.

‘Before kickoff, players and officials will congregate around the center circle when the national anthem will be played. It is, of course, a personal choice how those at Anfield on Saturday mark this occasion and we know some supporters have strong views on it.’

Speaking after the fans booed during Klopp expressed the fans would not have done it without good reason.

‘I know our people so well that they would not do it if there is not a reason for it. I have not been here long enough to understand the reason. That’s for sure something historical and that’s probably a question you can answer much better than I can.’

The national anthem is never normally played ahead of Premier League matches , and is usually reserved for occasion such as the FA Cup and Community Shield finals at Wembley, as well as England’s international fixtures.

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