- Paul Fennessy reports from the Aviva Stadium
NORTHERN IRELAND BOSS Michael O’Neill says he disagreed with fans’ booing of the national anthems during his side’s clash with the Republic at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday night.
‘God Save the Queen’ was loudly booed by home fans at the game, while sections of the away support could be heard doing likewise while the Republic’s anthem Amhrán na bhFiann was playing.
“When people come to a football ground, and decide to boo an anthem, that’s their decision,” O’Neill said afterwards.
“I don’t particularly agree with it, I would never condone anyone booing anyone’s anthem, but that’s not something I’m in control of. I don’t want to dwell on that too much, I concentrate on football.
“The game was played in a great spirit, there was great respect between both sets of players, it was very competitive and when tackles went in, you could see players picking each other up. You could see there was a great respect between both players, and that’s the most important thing.”
Meanwhile, the former Shamrock Rovers manager said he was satisfied with his team’s performance on the night and felt it deserved a better result.
I think we should have won that game. In terms of possession of the ball and chances created, we should have won the game.
“We have to commend Darren Randolph, I thought he had a great night and made important saves at key moments in the game.
“We are pleased with the performance, but there is a pattern there, like in our games in the Nations League, in that we dominated the game without taking the chances we created.”
But while adamant that his side were superior on the night, O’Neill was reluctant to be too critical of the opposition.
“We knew what the Republic of Ireland would be [like],” he said. “Martin is in a similar situation to me, he’s trying to integrate new players into his team. He had two relatively inexperienced centre-backs at this level coming in tonight, and we had relative inexperience at full-back and in wide areas.
“You have to give players a chance to get to this level, and at the end of the day, the Republic weren’t beaten, so they can take that out of the game.”
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Didn’t see the game but I think the wheels are finally coming off this fai gravy train. Disrespecting the fans with this rubbish and ignoring the national league. Disrespecting the players with guys in the squad who said they weren’t even sure if they wanted to play for Ireland when joining up. It’s all about selling tickets to justify beefy salaries in the fai. The public don’t like this team any more. I think it’s over for O’Neill and the beginning of the end for Delaney. Fans are wising up. I expect them to be well beaten by Denmark next .
@Ronan McDermott: tickets were free……..
@Anthony: for this game yes. I’m talking about the fai’s general strategy. In any case from what I read about the game if it was on in the back yard a normal person would shut the curtains so big balooba if this game was free. It’s still overpriced haha
Supposed to be the best fans in the world…a lot of the people there last night certainly weren’t that. Being the best involves respect..I’m a football fan..not rugby but I tip my hat to those rugby fans at Croker Vs England a couple of years ago…I stood and respected both anthems last night.. those who didn’t should learn a lot from those in Croker that day! That should be what we are about…not stooping to the lows of others!!
And those Irish lads will be wearing Man united jerseys tomorow..and what’s more they dont understand that logic!!
In hindsight, considering it was a friendly, may it would have been wise to forego the anthems. Asking for agro, really.
@Alan J. McKenna: why should you forego the anthems that’s just excusing the idiots on both sides for their ignorance
@Dundalk FC Sydney: they wouldn’t play our anthem up north when the ladies played them in a competitive game not too long ago. That’s a lot worse then booing imo
@David Linehan: You didn’t mention that they did so as they received death threats in the case that they played our anthem. So it wasn’t out of ignorance.
@David Linehan: they didn’t play either anthem or raise either flag on that occasion.
Still ridiculous that NI national anthem is GSTQ… As an Ulsterman I would much prefer Danny Boy
@IR1111: its GSTQ because NI doesnt have an anthem, it doesnt have a flag either.
No one will ever agree to a flag or anthem as some are happy with GSTQ and Union flag and others would see agreeing to a flag/anthem would be recognising NI. So NI will sit flagless and athhemless.
GSTQ shouldnt have been booed though, we should be better than that.
@Kingshu: it does have a flag
@Nigel o’Neill: Why try to correct me when you are wrong. If you are thinking of the Ulster Banner since 1972, it has had no official status. Some sports use it but its not the flag of NI. Why do you think the queen doesnt fly it and instead uses St Patricks saltire to represent NI. They have to use St Patricks Saltire becuase NI has no flag to fly. Doesnt have an anthem either so uses the next one up the UK anthem GSTQ. Hope that clears it up for you.
Easy fix, NI get an anthem that is inclusive to all in the north, get a flag that is inclusive to all. Ban those at windsor park that still want to sing about being up to their knees in fenian blood. Ban those that cant even sing sweet caroline without adding in f**k the pope. Maybe then catholics would want to represent your state and maybe then catholics in the north would want to go to windsor support you. Maybe then clubs in your own league wont have to have dignified protests at your cup final due to the anthem. Whilst the booing of anthems is not on its all down to the IFA still not getting their house in order
Uneducated cavemen
@sean de paore: While I wouldn’t boo an anthem myself, a read through history would say an Irishman has every reason to boo the British anthem, so maybe these guys are history buffs