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16th Nov 2018

Ministers brand Irish soccer fans who booed UK anthem as “idiots”

Alan Loughnane

Irish fans booing God save the Queen

Not a good look.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Health Minister Simon Harris have condemned Ireland fans who booed the British national anthem before prior to Thursday night’s game with Northern Ireland.

‘God Save The Queen’ was played at the Aviva Stadium but a number of fans were heard booing while it was being played.

Simon Harris was speaking on Newstalk Breakfast on Friday morning and criticised those involved.

“I think it’s embarrassing and idiotic,” Harris said. “I think it’s highly regrettable.

“The Tánaiste was there at the game last night, the DUP leader Arlene Foster was there.

“This is meant to be a country of Céad Míle Fáilte, a hundred thousand welcomes, sport is meant to be a unifying event.”

His sentiments were echoed by Simon Coveney who took to Twitter to say: “Embarrassed a small number of idiots booed the National Anthem of Northern Ireland tonight at Aviva.

“Competitive friendly, but Northern Ireland were our guests tonight in Dublin!”

DUP leader Arlene Foster responded to Coveney’s post saying:  “Thank you Simon. Otherwise, it was a lovely evening… NI almost clinched it too!” In the end, the two teams played out a 0-0 draw.

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