Booing the German anthem

[Glovesick]

Really? Absolutely grotesque behaviour.

@SlipperyDippery

It's mostly only English that do this. Scotland boo GSTQ but that's due to the nature of the song (crushing Scots)

So it’s ok for the Scots to boo the English anthem but not ok for the English to boo other anthems.
Which lyrics are about crushing Scotland?

GSTQ is the UK/British national anthem, not the English anthem. Just saying

Pathetic behaviour. Surely this is the antithesis of good sportsmanship?

@ChainJane

Look at the full lyrics of GSTQ.

Look at the full lyrics of the German anthem. The full lyrics of GSTQ aren't sung, just as the "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" is not sung.

But the England fans boo every other anthem as well

GSTQ is the UK/British national anthem, not the English anthem. Just saying

I know - I was responding to the context of Scotland booing it when played for the English team, but please insert the word “Team” after english and before anthem into my post if you prefer.

@ChainJane

I've heard God Save the Queen booed by Irish fans at events too.

It's not just England fans. Maybe only England fans who regularly boo Germany, but it's all down to history. English people remember the war, Irish people remember the Great Famine. Can't really blame the English for booing Germany based on events from 75 years ago when we do the same because of events 75 years before that!

@ChainJane What a ridiculous thing to say. Hardly anyone who is around today had even any personal involvement in the war, whether they are English or German, and also why would political events come into sports at all, especially if they happened several decades ago? The members of a national team do not represent a country in political terms, and it's just childish to boo a team because of the war or Brexit etc.

It was - for a while - during the Jacobite rebellion, but ceased to be used even before the song became our official National Anthem. The other side of the coin that Scots neglect to mention is that there was a pro-Jacobite verse:

God bless the prince, I pray,
God bless the prince, I pray,
Charlie I mean;
That Scotland we may see
Freed from vile Presbyt'ry,
Both George and his Feckie,
Ever so, Amen.

Errr ... are you trying to claim that God Save the King (Queen) once had a verse about freeing Scotland from the king and praising his mortal enemy?! This has never been an actual verse of GStK/Q - it's a piss take.

I think people in Scotland sometimes boo GStQ in protest that a British anthem is being used as an English anthem. Not that most Scots would want to use it ourselves, but because it's a constant reminder that the English think of themselves as equivalent to the British, with the other home nations not being relevant/acknowleged. I would personally never boo an anthem but I still feel really annoyed every time I hear the English use this as if it were their anthem.

And it's also very weak to say that there isn't an English anthem. Make one up! Most countries anthems are pretty recent, no need to find a traditional old song to use.

I missed the anthems but during the match, the German commentators referred to the England fans booing frequently when German players had the ball. They actually tried to be gracious about it!

They said something along the lines of: "Well, some might say booing the opposition is unsportsmanlike... but it's possible to see it as a mark of respect, that the opposition is at least a worthy rival..."

Somewhat more generous than merited, I thought!

Whilst I don't agree with any national anthems being booed, I think it is over the top to bang on about just the england fans and essentially how awful they are in comparison to everyone else after the racial abuse that players like raheem sterling received at the hands of fans from other countries.

To the point where the games were nearly stopped and there had to be netting over where the fans sat so they couldn't scale/throw anything over the barriers.

Also, England vs Germany in footballing terms has a lot of history...

Lot of people jumping to conclusions about it being because of the war/brexit.

English football fans used to be famous for being part of only a handful of national supporters who didn't boo other countries.

I was surprised, though maybe shouldn't have been given the state of them and the post Brexit nationalism.

I've not been to a football match recently but even in domestic English football booing when the opposition have possession of the ball is pretty much expected. Particularly at the beginning of the game.

It's all part of showing where the strongest support is and trying to put off the opposing team - whatever the nationality.

I agree it's not particularly sportsman like but since when has football been classed as a polite sport? It's not quite the same as tennis, polo etc. It's rough and ready football and the fans are loud and bolshy.

@looptheloopinahulahoop

It is horrible to boo another country's national anthem.

But it's also ridiculous that the ENGLAND team uses the BRITISH national anthem. I don't understand why none of the team has said anything about it. Completely inappropriate.

The England team use it because it is their national anthem.

Also, England vs Germany in footballing terms has a lot of history...

In England it seems to, yes. It’s a very odd one sides rivalry and obsession. I think many Germans are oblivious to it which makes it a bit awkward and embarrassing.

Honestly, it made me quite sad. It's disrespectful and unpleasant.

The German commentator on ARD (our equivalent of BBC 1), seemed quite unnerved by the sheer volume of people taking part in the booing.

I've watched lots of England games and there's always a small proportion of the crowd who boo the hymns - even in friendly games.

Having said that, some Germany fans booed at the Hungary game last week, so we need to be careful of double standards!

Wendyball for you. I have little respect for the fans of it because of this mindset. It’s not just English fans either.

I think many Germans are oblivious to it which makes it a bit awkward and embarrassing.

This is correct. We don't get it! Our rivalry is with the Dutch. There you'll hear constant booing and jeering from both sides.

@SecondRow

I missed the anthems but during the match, the German commentators referred to the England fans booing frequently when German players had the ball. They actually tried to be gracious about it!

They said something along the lines of: "Well, some might say booing the opposition is unsportsmanlike... but it's possible to see it as a mark of respect, that the opposition is at least a worthy rival..."

Somewhat more generous than merited, I thought!

They didn't mention the German fans Booing when England scored then?

I think they use something else for the Commonwealth Games. GSTQ is the absolute worst anthem. I wish I didnt have to listen to it at every sporting event.
Awful to boo a national anthem, but even worse to call an 8 year old child a slut on Twitter, sing 2 world wars, 1 world cup, and there were 8 German bombers in the air at every single England v Germany match. These moronic lardarses wouldnt survive 5 minutes in an actual war with the Germans! Thank God they are our allies!

@Rosesareyellow

Also, England vs Germany in footballing terms has a lot of history...

In England it seems to, yes. It’s a very odd one sides rivalry and obsession. I think many Germans are oblivious to it which makes it a bit awkward and embarrassing.

No, it's not specifically and English thing it's the fact there is a lot of history in football between the two teams, a lot of big matches and big results..

whether or not it means more to England than Germany is neither here nor there.

It's not just english fans that behave like tits at football games.

@AllesAusLiebe

I think many Germans are oblivious to it which makes it a bit awkward and embarrassing.

This is correct. We don't get it! Our rivalry is with the Dutch. There you'll hear constant booing and jeering from both sides.

I wouldn't say germany are who a lot of English fans see as their 'main' rivals but like I said, there is reasons why England would want to beat germany and it is nothing to do with wars and everything to do with the footballing history.

@SmallPrawnEnergy

Wendyball for you. I have little respect for the fans of it because of this mindset. It’s not just English fans either.

No it isn’t just English fans, but that’s the only sensible thing about your post.

the racial abuse that players like raheem sterling received at the hands of fans from other countries.

The amount of racial abuse Sterling gets from so called England supporters is abhorrent.

I love football, but it has changed so much since I was a season ticket holder. People are less interested in the game, and more about berating and abusing both players and opposition supporters, basically anyone that is not a white male. Sign of the times I'm afraid.

x2boys I did not hear a specific comment on the crowd noises after the goals, no.

However, genuine question, was it disproportionate? Groaning after the other team scores is normal and presumably all teams' fans do this. Booing the players' every move outside of any particular goal action is what I was talking about earlier.

Booing any national anthem is wrong, in any situation. Stay silent, perhaps do not stand for the particular anthem, but do not boo.

@Lockdownennui

It was - for a while - during the Jacobite rebellion, but ceased to be used even before the song became our official National Anthem. The other side of the coin that Scots neglect to mention is that there was a pro-Jacobite verse:

God bless the prince, I pray,
God bless the prince, I pray,
Charlie I mean;
That Scotland we may see
Freed from vile Presbyt'ry,
Both George and his Feckie,
Ever so, Amen.

Errr ... are you trying to claim that God Save the King (Queen) once had a verse about freeing Scotland from the king and praising his mortal enemy?! This has never been an actual verse of GStK/Q - it's a piss take.

I think people in Scotland sometimes boo GStQ in protest that a British anthem is being used as an English anthem. Not that most Scots would want to use it ourselves, but because it's a constant reminder that the English think of themselves as equivalent to the British, with the other home nations not being relevant/acknowleged. I would personally never boo an anthem but I still feel really annoyed every time I hear the English use this as if it were their anthem.

And it's also very weak to say that there isn't an English anthem. Make one up! Most countries anthems are pretty recent, no need to find a traditional old song to use.

You must have missed the point that it wasn't an official national anthem in the 18th Century, it was - just a song.

Satire was however invented, and whether you want to believe it or not, Jacobite supporters sang a verse opposing the King. Just as, the "crushing rebellious Scots" was an unofficial satirical verse.

Fully agree that England should have its own National Anthem for when it is required - no argument here - but to suggest it is used because the English consider themselves analogous with the British is a bit of a stretch - have you asked them all? I think its more likely that most English people sing it at the start of the football game because - erm- the tune is played and the team are singing it, rather than some nefarious evil overlord nationwide conspiracy.

Carry on picking a fight about it all though, as a proud Englishman I admire your jingoism.