“I wasn’t happy with it.”
The Tánaiste has criticised Irish fans who booed during the English national anthem at the Republic of Ireland’s clash with England at the Aviva on Saturday evening.
Ireland experienced a cruelly poetic 2-0 loss, with goals from former Ireland players Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
The rendition of the opposing team’s national anthem was drowned out by boos, as Ireland’s Amhran na Bhfiann was given a huge cheer before the match.
Speaking today in Newry, Micheál Martin said while most fans respected the singing of ‘God Save The King‘ by the England players before the game, there were some dissenters.
Tánaiste blasts Irish fans who booed English national anthem during Aviva clash
“I wasn’t happy with it,” Mr Martin said of the fans booing the English national anthem.
“I think when we’re hosting any country in the world, we should pay respect to their anthem, just as they should pay respect to our anthem.
“But the vast, vast majority of fans did pay respect. But you get that, it’s football.
“I thought overall, the match was played in a wonderful atmosphere, it was a very happy atmosphere in the Aviva.”
Prime Minister Kier Starmer was in attendance at the Avivia over the weekend and sat alongside Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris.
Speaking about the match itself, Mr Martin said: “We didn’t win. I think the English team were very strong on the night and there was some very good football played. We could have had one or two [goals].”
Mr Martin said he was “delighted” that Irish star Chiedozie Ogbene won man of the match on Saturday as he “hails from Cork” and played for his own GAA Club Nemo Rangers “when he was a young fella”.
There were a number of arrests made on Saturday involving fans clashing, Gardaí confirmed.
They did not clarify if those arrested were Ireland or England fans or a mixture of both.
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