England’s interim manager Lee Carsley says staying silent during the national anthem does not make him “any less committed” to the team.
He was speaking after choosing not to join his players in a pre-match rendition of God Save The King before their Nations League opener at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Carsley won his first match in charge of the men’s national side as they triumphed 2-0 against the Republic of Ireland – the nation he played for 40 times.
England’s Declan Rice, who previously won three senior caps for the hosts, and Jack Grealish, who represented Ireland up until under-21 level, scored the goals.
A row had erupted over Carsley saying he would not be singing the anthem before Saturday’s clash.
After the Group B2 match, Carsley said he respected people’s opinions but was unmoved by the reaction to him not joining in.
He said: “It has definitely not affected my day or preparation… I fully respect people’s opinions. It’s something that I’ve never done, but I fully respect both national anthems.”
He went on: “I’ve played in teams out there where players are belting the anthem out next to me, but also I’ve played in teams where players don’t sing, or coaches. I don’t think it makes me or anyone that doesn’t any less committed.”
Carsley was born in Birmingham but represented Ireland during his playing career through his grandmother, who is from County Cork.
Declan Rice (R) and Jack Grealish scored England’s goals. Pic: Reuters
The 50-year-old former midfielder had indicated in advance that he would not join in with the anthem – as has been his practice throughout his career.
In Dublin, all the England players appeared to sing along amid raucous boos from the home fans, while many of the almost 3,000 travelling supporters chanted throughout the Irish anthem.
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Carsley took charge of his first game in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s departure, having been promoted from his role as the England under-21s manager.
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Carsley after his side’s win on Saturday. Pic: PA
Speaking during the build-up to the game, he explained his reasons for not singing.
He said: “This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland – the gap between your warm-up, your coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So it’s something that I have never done.
“I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off. I was really focused on the football and I have taken that into coaching.”
Carsley was in good company as Ireland’s Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, also in the dugout for the first time following his appointment as Stephen Kenny’s successor in July, did not sing the Irish anthem.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said ahead of the match that, while he would sing the anthem, it should be a personal decision for Carsley and for any individual.