Trent Alexander-Arnold has been slammed for ‘refusing to sing’ the national anthem at the Hungary v England game this weekend.
The 23-year-old was named in the starting lineup for Gareth Southgate’s side in the UEFA Nations League clash at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
But Trent has since caused controversy, not just for being part of woeful performance on show, but also for not singing ‘God Save The Queen’ when the anthem was played over the tannoy this Platinum Jubilee weekend.
Every player was seen singing the song, however when the camera panned on Alexander-Arnold, he stood there with his lips sealed.
Scouser @TrentAA pic.twitter.com/14CXITguEV
— _officialliverpoolfans_ (@_OLiverpoolfans) June 4, 2022
Look at everyone singing the national anthem other than Trent😭😭 pic.twitter.com/0vt6L6TEbk
— Josh (@joshseal0) June 4, 2022
Many others however point out however that Alexander-Arnold is a Liverpudlian and many on Merseyside regularly say they are ‘Scouse, not English’.
They proved that in May, as you will recall prior to the FA Cup final against Chelsea, Liverpool fans booed the national anthem as well as the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William.
It’s common knowledge by now that plenty of people from Liverpool do not support the England national team at major tournaments.
The comes from the Conservative government’s mismanagement of the city in the 1980s and the failings for the Hillsborough disaster, where 97 Liverpool fans died, at the end of the decade.
In response, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told media: “The people do not do it for no reason”.
As mentioned, Alexander-Arnold was slammed for ‘refusing to sing’ the national anthem at the Hungary – England game…
@George290994: Bit strange you lot watching England when your scouse not English…
@_OLiverpoolfans: So now we’re not allowed to watch any football that doesn’t involve Liverpool? Gutted 😞
@Jacleby: You said in another comment you wouldn’t celebrate if England won the World Cup. So why are you watching
@KeithWarren4: Never liked him, even less now
@splowrie123: @TrentAA if you don’t wanna sing the National anthem then go and play for another country.
@DarrenR28: Anyone else notice that Trent Alexander-Arnold was the only one not singing the national anthem.
@WBA_Rhys: @TrentAA if you don’t want to sing the national anthem then don’t wear the shirt tosser
@DoumouZacki: He shouldn’t play for England then idc. If you hate something or someone that much then you shouldn’t play at all. Walker is better than him anyway.
@rob_ferg88: Imagine not signing the national anthem whilst wearing an England shirt on a day like this. Shame on you @TrentAA #England #Jubilee #shameful
@3_JoshChapman: Well, @TrentAA you are a disgrace. Can’t even sing the national anthem of the country you’re representing. No wonder Southgate hates you.
@Leetham21: @TrentAA Absolutely class player but sing your national anthem or fuck off
@ARoofer65: Only England player not to be singing the national anthem @TrentAA….. typical ‘scouse not English’
@jaguarstr: @TrentAA I and a few other friends would like to ask why you did not sing the National anthem at the hungry game today. Love you as player but it’s a little disrespectful after all you are playing for your country.
@whucentre: I don’t know what’s worst, the fact Alexander Arnold won’t sing the national anthem, or his first half performance
@Adam_Robbo: @TrentAA If u are putting on an england shirt! You fucking sing the national anthem with your heart. To be representing your country. Otherwise you can go sit back down on the bench or not play, i thought we got past that stage where players didn’t sing our countrys anthem!!
@ChelsSam_: In a ground that’s half empty because of racist abuse, our players should stand united, tall and proud. When representing England (on an iconic weekend in British history), you should never not sing the national anthem. Enter… Trent Alexander-Arnold, ladies and gentlemen.
@hazzacarter: Funny how @TrentAA plays the ‘Scouse, Not English’ card, but when the national team comes calling he just can’t help himself 😭
@YocCmnoCTTV: Trent Alexander Arnold refusing to sing the national anthem but still plays for the shirt. Makes sense
@Slug_23: @TrentAA should never play for @England again after refusing to sing the national anthem
talkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan hit out at the Liverpool fans who booed the national anthem before the FA Cup final with Chelsea at Wembley.
“You’ve got to be a special brand of moron to boo the national anthem,” he said on White and Jordan.
“I can’t relate to it. If I could relate to it I’d feel there’s a bigger tragedy because if I could relate to that kind of behaviour then I’ve got a problem as much as they have. I can’t relate to it.
“I can’t see whatever your grievance is about whatever country you live in, the argument that somehow because there’s difficulty in this climate, we’re all having a difficult time, the cost of living crisis, you boo the national anthem because you don’t like the government.”
He added: “This is the culture in football amongst a certain section of our fans. This is what goes on.
“I don’t really care about how other nations around the world, that all have their own problems and issues, with the Italian fans doing fascist signals at the start of games, I don’t care.
“I care about the way we operate in this country and it is completely unacceptable.
“It’s a bad case to make, but you can make a case for booing the national anthem of a visiting side, even that is disrespectful and unnecessary in an international game.
“When it’s people of the same country and a centre piece final that people complain about not enough ability to get people down to football stadiums and not enough people get to games.
“You have the future king of England, whether you are a Republican or Royalist, it’s relatively academic, and people are booing it.
“We had uproar last week when the Tottenham fans were making observations about the culture of Liverpool fans and what they may not do from a jobless point of view.
“Now we’ve got fans booing the national anthem. On what basis and for what reason.”
An unexpected moment at today’s #FACupFinal, where Liverpool fans booed Prince William and National Anthem. My understanding (correct me if I’m wrong, Twitter) is that it’s still felt there was an establishment cover-up over the Hillsborough disaster and getting justice for it. pic.twitter.com/uFLAJEJp30
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) May 14, 2022
Meanwhile, England players were booed for taking the knee by Hungarian fans on Saturday evening, majority of which by 30,000 under 14s (accompanied by adults) in a game that was suppose to be behind closed doors.
That supposed suspension was handed out by UEFA as a punishment for the racist behaviour of their supporters during Euro 2020.
talkSPORT’s England reporter Faye Carruthers – who was in attendance at the Puskas Arena – wrote on Twitter: “Don’t agree with 30,000-plus fans attending a behind closed doors fixtures, [but] hearing the children singing the Hungarian national anthem made me think maybe it was okay.
“Then they booed the England players taking the knee…”
That sentiment was echoed by co-commentator for the match, Dean Ashton, who was not happy with what he heard.
He said: “That suggests a much deeper institutional problem. It was horrible to hear.”
Gareth Southgate hoped it would be an opportunity for fans both in the stadium and watching at home to learn about the consequences of racism, and would have been saddened by the scenes prior to kick-off.
“We’ve shown how we feel about these issues, in terms of racism and it’s unacceptability,” said Southgate.
“Hopefully the young people in the stadium will recognise why this opportunity has happened and in some ways maybe this will be part of the education for the next generation.
“Each generation that passes will bring more tolerance and we have the same situation in our country, so we’ve got to keep setting the right example.
“All being well, the young people will enjoy the game and take a bigger message from it.”
Hungary forced to play game behind closed doors due to fan racism, let in 30,000+ under 14s, who boo England players taking the knee pic.twitter.com/jt652RE310
— Sam Cunningham (@samcunningham) June 4, 2022
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