Liverpool fans boo UK national anthem on coronation day

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Liverpool fans at the Anfield Stadium booed the UK national anthem loudly on Saturday, the day when King Charles III was crowned.

The Reds' fans jeered "God Save The King" while it was played before Liverpool's English Premier League match against Brentford.

Liverpool beat Brentford 1-0 as Mohamed Salah scored the winning goal in the 13th minute.

The Premier League on Friday asked home clubs to play the "God Save The King" this weekend to mark the coronation of the king.

"Before kick-off and in recognition of the Premier League's request to mark the coronation, players and officials will congregate around the centre circle when the national anthem will be played. It is, of course, a personal choice how those at Anfield on Saturday mark this occasion and we know some supporters have strong views on it," Liverpool previously said in a statement.

Meanwhile Scotland's Rangers sang the national anthem at their home ground Ibrox Stadium before a Sunday match against Aberdeen.

Rangers won the match 1-0.

"In celebration of the Coronation of Their Majesties, Rangers FC will join clubs around the UK in playing the National Anthem prior to kick-off this afternoon," Rangers said on Twitter.

The Glasgow club also sent "their congratulations and best wishes" to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the coronation day.

- Reds fans boo national anthem for political reasons in past

In May 2022, Liverpool supporters also booed and whistled when the British national anthem was played during the last season's FA Cup final.

In the 1980s, fans often booed or whistled during the national anthem, "God Save the Queen," in local cup finals at Wembley for political reasons.

Booing the anthem became popular among Liverpool fans during the UK's Conservative government's "managed decline" of the city after the 1981 Toxteth riots in Liverpool that triggered unrest across the country.

Conservative Margaret Thatcher, known as the "Iron Lady," was prime minister at the time, serving from 1979 to 1990.

Records have shown that Thatcher was told to abandon the city by her chancellor, which meant she was urged not to waste public money on Merseyside after the riots.

Merseyside is an English metropolitan county and Liverpool is its largest city.