Anthem banned at Champions League soccer

UEFA has rejected requests from British teams to play the national anthem before Champions League matches this week.

Liverpool and Ajax players observe a minute silence to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth prior to their UEFA Champions League match at Anfield on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

UEFA has rejected requests from British teams to play the national anthem before Champions League matches this week.

Chelsea, Rangers and Manchester City are all understood to have made requests to play God Save the King but UEFA, which had already decided against playing its Champions League anthem, has turned them down.

UEFA justified their decision by saying their aim was to maintain “a consistent pre-match ceremony with a subdued atmosphere and without any celebratory activities across all UK venues to show respect”. UEFA has given permission for a group of Chelsea Pensioners to go on to the pitch at Stamford Bridge to lay a wreath in memory of the Queen.

The clubs involved are disappointed by UEFA’s decision and expect it to be hugely unpopular with those fans who want to use the occasion to honour the Queen and welcome King Charles. There are suggestions on social media that supporters will respond by staging their own unofficial singing of the national anthem.

Liverpool supporters on Tuesday night observed a period of silence in the Queen’s memory at Anfield. There were isolated shouts of “Liverpool” and “Redmen” and some boos, but they were immediately hushed. The tribute lasted about 30 seconds, with the majority of fans showing due deference.

The Times