Booing the NI Anthem

**OwlsFan** · 26/05/2011, 2:37 PM

I would like to propose banning all booing, namely booing of the opposition, booing the linesman, booing the referee, booing one's own players, booing Trap, booing the hotdog man. In fact, in line with the PA Man, we should applaud the opposition, the linesman even if he gives a dodgy offside against us, applaud the ref even if he gives a peno against us, applaud the FAI for the ticket prices, applaud the PA man for being a total plonker and ban all cheering for one's own side lest it be deemed offensive to the opponents. In fact, we should let the opposition win then they will all be happy with no offense taken.

**Polster** · 26/05/2011, 2:56 PM

This is hillarious, I've been going to games since 88 and my only gripe is when our fans are not making noise/singing. I'm in London now and watched the game on Sky, the boo'ing of the anthem was hardly worth noting, not commented on, and as for singing new songs, what is wrong with people? I don't care if they have been heard at Celtic Park, Poznan, Wrestle Mania or the EuroVison, they obviously help the atmosphere which is most important.

Some people on here sound like they are going to the opera or the library. In the words of a crazy corkman, 'get over it'

**SwanVsDalton** · 26/05/2011, 3:04 PM

Maybe for a couple of people it's about general songs or atmosphere or whatever, but the thread title is about booing the anthem. And whether it was 'understandable' or NI fans started it first or other nations do it is irrelevant - it's occurrence, even in a minority, is embarrassing.

**Polster** · 26/05/2011, 3:18 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Maybe for a couple of people it's about general songs or atmosphere or whatever, but the thread title is about booing the anthem. And whether it was 'understandable' or NI fans started it first or other nations do it is irrelevant - it's occurrence, even in a minority, is embarrassing.

It's never good, but am I embarrased by it, no. I think it is been blown out of all proportion by some people on here, who are the same people which have brought the unacceptable singing of non secteranian songs into the thread also. In a perfect world noone would boo an anthem regardless of their feelings, but compared to most countries our booing would barely register.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 26/05/2011, 3:30 PM

There's an awful lot of self-righteousness in this thread.

Roy Keane (& Bertie) got booed during the opening of the Special Olympics which was somewhat less contentious, but there was no great public outcry.

It's part of Life, some people need to get over that.

**SwanVsDalton** · 26/05/2011, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

There's an awful lot of self-righteousness in this thread.

Roy Keane (& Bertie) got booed during the opening of the Special Olympics which was somewhat less contentious, but there was no great public outcry.

It's part of Life, some people need to get over that.

Who isn't over it? Are you suggesting there is a great public outcry in this case (when we're simply an infinitesimally small corner of the internet talking about a niche subject)?

Most importantly IMO - why can't we just call the booing of an anthem a load of silly, juvenile nonsense without people resorting to whataboutery? Just because it exists - it happens, it's part of 'Life', it's naive to expect otherwise - doesn't make it condonable or right. And even then, I don't think it's so prevalent that we should shrug and accept it. If we're a relatively respectful bunch of fans we should maintain that standard and call it straight - anthem booing is childish, stupid and embarrassing, whether it's 60 fans for 20 seconds or 6,000 fans for two minutes.

I don't think that's unreasonable and it certainly doesn't require Alan Sugar-esque get realisms in response.

**bennocelt** · 26/05/2011, 4:42 PM

Originally Posted by an_ceannaire

its utterly fukin pathetic. People like that are prob the same lads who were against the queens visit cos of "800 years" bla bla feckin bla..........
Come into the 21st Century lads. Its great fun here!

Is that why no one could get anywhere near 200 feet of the Queen?

**AlaskaFox** · 26/05/2011, 4:55 PM

On the flag issue.

Basque

Ulster

Vatican City

**IsMiseSean** · 26/05/2011, 7:01 PM

I'm not trying to confuse the flag issue anymore than it has been, but I also saw a guy with a Palestine flag.

**paul_oshea** · 26/05/2011, 7:11 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Danny, that was a Vatican flag at 2.26 alright. What kind of fool brings a flag that does nothing but say "I'm a catholic" in a game against a country beset by sectarian division? Words fail me.

John 3:16

**paul_oshea** · 26/05/2011, 7:20 PM

Ive never seen foot.ie so divided. I haven't seen what the reaction is from those NI fans there.

I don't like the booing of anthems, we come across as neandarthal apes like those we came across in some of those other countries we have gone to out east. Sometimes booing is just seen as intimidation but where we have a shared contrived history with the north it is certainly a lot more than this.

I see that we are all very much divided on this and it saddens me.

**Stuttgart88** · 26/05/2011, 7:28 PM

Cheer up Paul. Think of Ros beating Sligo last summer.

I don't think it's a sign of any great malaise among our support. I suspect the opposition drew out more than a fair share of our latent muppetry. The Vatican flag kind of proves this point.

**Bungle** · 26/05/2011, 7:30 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Maybe for a couple of people it's about general songs or atmosphere or whatever, but the thread title is about booing the anthem. And whether it was 'understandable' or NI fans started it first or other nations do it is irrelevant - it's occurrence, even in a minority, is embarrassing.

Spot on, couldn't have said it better

**geysir** · 26/05/2011, 8:33 PM

The booers just embarrass themselves. The OWC crowd are certainly used to it and have heard much worse before.
In a masochistic sort of way they encourage it and take the hit, then run off to their hovels and moan about how the rest of the world hate them. Even make a list of all the perceived insults inflicted upon them, as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

**paul_oshea** · 26/05/2011, 9:46 PM

Well its an us against the world attitude, in all small(possibly minded) communities who feel repressed or unjustified its a common mentality. Makes them feel stronger, a more togetherness.

I met this rabbi on the plane from boston to houston recently who had studied different "interest groups" told me something about these guys who preach the end of the world, like the mayan theory and that guy recently in the states, that the more evidence you put forward to them, the stronger their actual belief becomes and the more close knit the community becomes....

**Lionel Ritchie** · 26/05/2011, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

John 3:16

I'm pretty certain John3:16 is a "born again" type. Which'd make him a dissenter and unlikely to be carrying a papal flag.

So the question stands -what manner of grade A moron brings a papal flag to ANY football game that doesn't involve Vatican Citeh FC? I'm guessing he's not a regular.

**tetsujin1979** · 26/05/2011, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

I'm pretty certain John3:16 is a "born again" type. Which'd make him a dissenter and unlikely to be carrying a papal flag.

So the question stands -what manner of grade A moron brings a papal flag to ANY football game that doesn't involve Vatican Citeh FC? I'm guessing he's not a regular.

the same manner of grade A moron that brings a Basque flag to a game that doesn't include a Basque representative side?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 26/05/2011, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Most importantly IMO - why can't we just call the booing of an anthem a load of silly, juvenile nonsense without people resorting to whataboutery? Just because it exists - it happens, it's part of 'Life', it's naive to expect otherwise - doesn't make it condonable or right. And even then, I don't think it's so prevalent that we should shrug and accept it. If we're a relatively respectful bunch of fans we should maintain that standard and call it straight - anthem booing is childish, stupid and embarrassing, whether it's 60 fans for 20 seconds or 6,000 fans for two minutes.

I don't think that's unreasonable and it certainly doesn't require Alan Sugar-esque get realisms in response.

It may be a little 'silly', but given what that tune means, you need to have a little perspective of history.
And its symbolism in an Irish context!

Bar a few paranoid R*ngers fans, if it had been Scotland v. 'Ingerland' for instance, the 'booing' would have been somewhat more substantial.

And guessing your average Derry City fan would be none too keen on hearing it, or do they play it before every home game??

Ultimately, it's irrelevant to all but diehard unionists on this island....

**awec** · 26/05/2011, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

the same manner of grade A moron that brings a Basque flag to a game that doesn't include a Basque representative side?

Or a palestine flag...

**awec** · 26/05/2011, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

It may be a little 'silly', but given what that tune means, you need to have a little perspective of history.
And its symbolism in an Irish context!

Bar a few paranoid R*ngers fans, if it had been Scotland v. 'Ingerland' for instance, the 'booing' would have been somewhat more substantial.

And guessing your average Derry City fan would be none too keen on hearing it, or do they play it before every home game??

Ultimately, it's irrelevant to all but diehard unionists on this island....

Ironically you'd be the first one to cream your trunks were Amhr�n na bhFiann booed by anyone and you'd be the first to shout "intolerant bigots".