Red card for 'new football anthem'
UNIONISTS have expressed opposition to a suggestion from the Irish FA that a new anthem may be played at Northern Ireland matches.
IFA president Raymond Kennedy has revealed that the idea of replacing the national anthem was under consideration.
And he said the launch of a competition to come up with a new anthem was an option.
On Wednesday, the News Letter reported a call from Ulster Unionist Kenny Donaldson to find a new anthem, instead of God Save the Queen, which would be more acceptable to people from different traditions in the Province.
Mr Kennedy said: "We have a Football for All policy and we aim to make our football welcoming and inclusive to everybody in Northern Ireland society.
"We continue to review our policies and ideas and this may come under that heading, and we'll have a review. But I must stress that this
review could not take place without the full consultation of all our stakeholders."
He said any plans for a new anthem would be part of an initiative by the association to make the game "more inclusive".
He told UTV that he would consider running a competition to find a "good anthem".
"If we get to that stage there are many good famous songwriters and music people in Northern Ireland, we could maybe have half a dozen different alternatives and then we might let the public or the
supporters pick one," he said.
But all three main unionist parties have opposed any attempt to replace the playing of the national anthem at football internationals.
DUP MLA Ian Paisley Jnr told the News Letter the national anthem is "something that we should never concede".
"I believe that the national anthem should be played at football matches because it is the national game," he said.
"I would have no opposition to them playing it alongside The Queen similar to how the Ulster rugby team have The Ulstermen which is a very
rousing tune.
"The national anthem should not be seen as offensive, it is the neutral anthem of the nation and it is something that I don't think we should ever concede."
Mr Paisley called for 'unionist unity' to oppose any such move.
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister slammed the IFA and accused it of making football political.
"Attempting to remove the national anthem is bringing politics into football," he said.
"It is foolhardy of the IFA to go down that path.
"The national anthem is the national anthem and this is the national team.
"It is right and proper that it would be played at matches."
Ulster Unionist David McNarry said his party opposed any plan to remove
the national anthem from matches.
Yesterday, his colleague Kenny Donaldson suggested replacing The Queen could remove the argument of "loaded nationalists" which is that the playing of the national anthem "is unacceptable at Northern Ireland
matches and has the consequence of alienating people".
But Mr McNarry said: "I am the Ulster Unionist Party spokesman on sports and culture.
"Removing the national anthem from the start of football matches is not party policy nor is it under consideration as long as I remain the party spokesperson.
"My duty is to ensure that the party is not misrepresented on this issue."
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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