England interim boss Lee Carsley has been branded an ’embarrassment’ after he sparked fury by not singing God Save the King during the Three Lions’ match with Ireland.
His first match as manager of the team has started in controversial fashion at the Aviva Stadium in tonight’s Nations League opener.
Carsley, was born in Birmingham but represented the Republic of Ireland 40 times at senior international level, had warned prior to the match that he would not sing God Save the King.
But England fans were all the same alarmed to see their national team’s manager, who had been England U21’s manager since 2021, stand awkwardly with his lips firmly sealed while all the players sung.
Fans took to social media to slam Carsely’s decision to not sing the national anthem, asking ‘Who the f*** does he think he is?, while others said he ‘should be ashamed of himself’ after the ‘massive error of judgement’.
Carsley (left) admitted he has struggled to sing anthems before matches and opted not to sing in Dublin on Saturday
The England players joined in singing the anthem at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday
Born in Birmingham, Carsley went on to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level
Carsley was also embarrassed prior to kickoff after he sat in the Irish dugout by accident and had to be helped by staff to the right one, with some social media users commenting ‘old habits die hard’.
However once play got underway the fixture started well for England as the team scored in the 11th minute with Declan Rice smashing into the top corner, followed by a Jack Grealish goal in the 26th minute.
The match is expected to be the start of a six-game trial for Carsley, which could lead to him being permanently promoted from his role as Under-21 head coach.
The 50-year-old insisted he would be too focused on the game ahead, and on Saturday afternoon, he was true to his word, staring straight ahead as the anthem was loudly booed by the home supporters.
‘This (singing the anthem) is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland,’ Carsley said on Friday.
‘The gap between your warm-up, you’re coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So it’s something that I have never done.
‘I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off.
‘I was really focused on the football and I have taken that into coaching.
‘We had the national anthem with the Under 21s also and I am in a zone at that point. I am thinking about how the opposition are going to set up and our first actions within the game.
‘I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries.’
But despite Carsley’s arguments, England fans were quick to share their outrage at his actions on social media following the strange sight of their manager not singing the national anthem.
One wrote: ‘Genuinely embarrassing from Lee Carsley. Quick way to make the fans dislike you.’
Another commented: ‘If you can’t put your heart and soul into the job step aside and wait for the Ireland job.’
England fans were quick to share their outrage at Lee Carsely’s decision on social media during the match
Members of Carsley’s backroom staff including former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole (right) sang ‘God Save The King’
England’s Nations League campaign start will act as an audition for the interim manager
Someone else said on Twitter/X: ‘So, Lee Carsley couldn’t bring himself to sing the national anthem, God Save the King! He should be ashamed of himself. I’m ashamed of him. Massive error of judgement from him and the FA.’
Meanwhile another poster wrote: ‘So Lee Carsley, manager of the Mens England football team, will not sing the national anthem! Aww bless him, he’s focusing on football not the national anthem. Why be England’s manager if you can’t be arsed to respect England?!’
Former England international Mark Wright claimed before the match he ‘doesn’t understand where Carsley is coming from’.
Writing in Mail Sport, Wright said it felt patriotic to sing the national anthem during his 45 cap international career.
He drew a comparison to the pride shown by Carsley’s predecessor Gareth Southgate in singing the national anthem, stating that ‘deep down supporters want an English manager who will sing the anthem as proudly as any of his players.’
‘You have to accept the stance other people take, but ideally it would be better if everybody showed their feelings to the country, including the manager,’ Wright wrote.
‘That’s what I believe. It is a touchy subject in this day and age. We are all built differently.
Carsley (centre) had previously not sung the anthem as head coach of the England Under-21s
Rice refused to celebrate after he scored, but the gesture had no effect on the supporters who continued to jeer his every touch. Rice won three senior caps for the Republic before controversially switching allegiance to England
Grealish also switched to Ireland after having represented Ireland up until under-21 level. He celebrated after scoring in the 26th minute
Grealish’s goal but England 2-0 up during the UEFA Nations League group F soccer match against Ireland
‘Maybe Lee doesn’t want to show disrespect for the Republic of Ireland team he once played for.
‘He took a stance because he thought he wouldn’t get a chance in the England set-up as a player, and in life you have to respect other people’s decisions.’
talkSPORT presenter Jamie O’Hare went further by claiming Carsley had already ‘lost the entire’ nation’ before a ball had even been kicked.
‘What’s people take on Carsley not wanting to sing the national anthem?,’ O’Hara began.
‘That to me is ok cya later then, you’ve just lost the entire nation before you’ve even kicked a ball, thanks for coming Lee’.
The Nations League opener marked the start of a new era just 55 days after England lost a second successive European Championship final.
Southgate called time on his eight-year reign after the narrow loss to Spain, with Carsley promoted to caretaker senior boss as the Football Association considers who to appoint next.
British Prime Minister Sir Keri Starmer and Irish Teosoch Simon Harris before the match
The political leaders shake hands before the match begins
Carsley’s has played 50 times for Ireland, adding extra spice to a fixture that also saw Declan Rice and Jack Grealish return to the Emerald Isle.
Rice won three senior caps for the Republic before controversially switching allegiance to England, shortly after Grealish did the same having represented Ireland up until under-21 level.
Both would go on to score, with Rice refusing to celebrate, but the gesture had no effect on the supporters who continued to jeer his every touch.
Asked prior to the game if he has any concerns about playing Rice or Grealish at the Aviva Stadium, Carsley said: ‘No, not all.
‘We spoke – not only (to) Jack and Declan, to the whole squad – we spoke about the atmosphere we expect it to be.
‘Exciting, passionate, loud, but it’ll be no different to what the players are used to in Premier League games or high level games. I think they’ll be ready for whatever comes out.’
