A FORMER Scotland international footballer has said that booing by fans during God Save The King at last night’s friendly against England is down to the fact the song acts as both the British and English national anthems.
Scotland fans drowned out the singing of God Save The King with boos ahead of last night’s kick-off, prompting criticism from pundit Ally McCoist.
He said he was disappointed in the reaction, claiming that all anthems should be respected and going as far as to suggest that “SNP fans” might be to blame.
But ex-footballer Michael Stewart said on X/Twitter that the row surrounding Scotland fans booing the English anthem is largely down to the song being used in both a British and English context.
“GSTK [God Save The King] can not be the English and British national anthem,” he said. “This is the crux of the issue.
“England is not Britain but on many fronts it either acts like it is or it’s facilitated that way.
“That’s disrespectful and unacceptable, it’s also not sustainable”.
GSTK can not be the English and British national anthem. This is the crux of the issue. England is not Britain but on many fronts it either acts like it is or it’s facilitated that way. Thats disrespectful and unacceptable, it’s also not sustainable.
— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) September 13, 2023
In an earlier tweet Stewart also brought up the line “rebellious Scots to crush”, which is contained is certain versions of God Save The King.
He said: “’Rebellious Scots to crush’ “Know your place and don’t be disrespectful.”
In 2007, former attorney general Peter Goldsmith - who was conducting a review of British citizenship at the behest of then prime minister Gordon Brown – suggested the lyric be rewritten.
However, in 2010 it was confirmed that no changes would be made to the anthem.
