Harry Redknapp leads backlash against Lee Carsley as England manager refuses to sing God Save The King
ENGLAND caretaker manager Lee Carsley sparked a fresh row yesterday with his refusal to sing the national anthem ahead of yesterday’s Nations League match.
Former Spurs and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp said that belting out God Save The King is “a must” for the job.
Carsley’s controversial tight-lipped stance before the game against Ireland in Dublin overshadowed his first time in charge of the team — who won 2-0.
Harry, 77, said: “As a proud Englishman and a patriot, I do think singing the national anthem is important. I always love to see players and managers belting it out, whatever the sport.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re from, for me if you’re in charge of an English team, you should sing it. In 99 per cent of circumstances, at least.”
But he conceded that former Ireland player Carsley may have been caught between a rock and hard place.
Harry said: “I accept that on this occasion Lee did have a problem and was maybe stuck in the middle of things.
“Not just as a former Republic of Ireland player, but because there was maybe even more emotion than usual on this one after the trouble there’s been in the past.
“But while that made it understandable this time, when it comes to a ‘regular’ game, against, say, Spain, France or whoever, it’s a must.
“As England manager, singing the anthem is a must — whoever you are and wherever you’re from.” ITV pundit Ian Wright said: “I feel for him because it’s one of the biggest opportunities of his life. It’s a storm in a teacup.”
The hostile Irish crowd booed as the national anthem was played just before the 5pm kick off.
Declan Rice and Jack Grealish were singled out for jeers and accusations of being “snakes” having previously played for Ireland at youth level.
But they silenced their critics by scoring both of England’s goals.
The pair had joined in with the national anthem before the match.
But 50-year-old Carsley, looking passive in a maroon England training top, nervously kept his lips clamped shut.
He was born in England but won 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland during his playing career.
He had already said he would not sing the national anthem — and never did as a player, saying he preferred to use the time to focus on the game instead.
He also said he has never sung the anthem as England’s Under-21s coach.
Before the match, Carsley told ITV1: “I’ve got so much respect for both national anthems and I’ll stand there proud today. I think everyone’s entitled to their opinion and as a player making my debut in ’97, or whenever it was, I was totally focused on the game.”
He added: “It hasn’t changed since I was coaching and hopefully that will be the same today.”
Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane said: “It’s a welcome to the reality of being a manager of England.
“It’s unfair, of course it is, but that’s the industry we’re in. Your focus is to try to win football matches.”
Meanwhile, football journalist Henry Winter said on X/Twitter: “I don’t care if Lee Carsley sings the National Anthem or not as long as he gets a tune out of the England players.”
PM Sir Keir Starmer even waded into the row before kick-off, saying: “I will be singing the national anthem. What others do is really a matter for them.”
But TalkSport’s Jamie O’Hara, an ex-Premier League footballer, said: “You’ve just lost the entire nation before you’ve even kicked a ball. Thanks for coming, Lee.”
Fans piled in too. Dean Thomson said: “You can’t be England manager if you refuse to sing the national anthem.”
And Toby Macallister said: “Sack him now. I don’t want anyone managing England who won’t sing the national anthem.”
Former Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate always proudly sang the anthem — and told players to do the same.
CAR'S SEAT GAFFE
By SAM CREED
ANTHEM-row boss Lee Carsley tripped up again before the match — when he sat in the wrong dugout in Dublin.
England’s interim manager, capped 40 times by Ireland, settled down in the home side’s seats at the Aviva Stadium.
He was told of his gaffe by an official and jumped off opposite number Heimir Hallgrimsson’s place to head over to the England bench.
Confused Carsley showed he was game for a laugh, managing to smile as he was ushered away.
Roy Hodgson, England boss from 2012 to 2016, also demanded his teams sing it.
His predecessor Fabio Capello, an Italian, said he “didn’t feel right” singing it.
But the late Sven-Göran Eriksson, who was Swedish and in charge of England from 2001 to 2006, tried to “sing a bit”.
Nicky Butt, 49, who won 39 caps for England, said of the row: “Is it something that would bother the players? No, not at all. When I played for England I don’t think I sang the anthem either.
“I was always just concentrating on the game. It doesn’t mean you’re any less passionate. I didn’t sing it, Scholesy (Paul Scholes) didn’t sing it and I don’t think Gary Neville sang it either.
“Nobody was prouder than us three to be there. I don’t think it’s anything big. It’s his own personal preference.”
And former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said: “I don’t think there’s any pressure on anybody to sing an anthem.
“I’m a proud Englishman and I sang it with pride before every England game — and it meant a lot to me.
“But when you’ve got a dual-nationality manager who played 40 times for the Republic of Ireland it’s just unfortunate his first game is against them.
“Whether he sings the national anthem or not I’m sure it’s not high on the FA’s list of points needed when they come to appoint the next England manager. He will be judged on his football.”