England's new coach refuses to sing the national anthem. Fans split into two camps

For the second consecutive time, England has reached the final of the European Championship. However, as in 2020, they fell short of securing the trophy. Following this, head coach Gareth Southgate announced his departure from the national team.

After considering various options, Lee Carsley was appointed as the interim coach. He has been given a six-match probation period, and with positive results, he may become Southgate’s permanent successor.

• Also read: Ex-England coach names Southgate's ideal permanent successor

Carsley's first test will be today’s match against the Republic of Ireland. However, on the eve of the game, the coach made a statement that shocked many.

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Carsley declared that he would not sing the British national anthem before the match. According to him, he will be entirely focused on the game.

Carsley, born in Birmingham, represented the Republic of Ireland during his playing career. At the pre-match press conference, he stated:

"Singing the anthem is something I always struggled with when I played for Ireland," the Daily Mail reports him saying.

"The gap between the warm-up and coming onto the field is marked by the playing of anthems, so it's something I never did. I was always very focused on the game and my first actions in it. I found that during that period, I was careful not to let my mind wander."

This statement has divided fans. Some were enraged by his decision, while others argued it was his choice, with the game being the main focus.

One user wrote:

"You cannot become the England manager if you refuse to sing the national anthem."

On a show aired on Talk, a different perspective was offered:

"There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your country. I bet if this were for BLM, it would be fine."

In Daily Mail, Jeff Powell wrote:

"Lee Carsley should be dismissed by the FA today. His refusal to sing the national anthem is a betrayal, and he is unworthy of being England’s manager."

However, another supporter defended Carsley, stating that England's performance is the priority, and the real betrayal lies in the media's attacks.

The debate has sparked numerous discussions online.

A reminder that the match between England and Ireland is set to take place today, September 7, at 18:00 Central European Time.