The Scots decided to impose their own rules. This Wednesday, before their Champions League match against Naples, the Glasgow Rangers defied the European football authorities by broadcasting the “God Save the King”. Initially, the Scottish club had asked UEFA for permission to change the protocol of the competition in order to be able to broadcast the British anthem before kick-off at Ibrox.
A request which was rejected, UEFA authorizing only a minute of silence and the wearing of black armbands in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died last Thursday in her Scottish castle of Balmoral. After the minute of silence agreed with the European football authorities, the Rangers still decided to broadcast the British anthem, exposing themselves to a possible sanction from UEFA.
An anthem taken up in chorus by players and supporters
Scottish players and supporters of the club, historically close to the royal family, sang along to the new version of the UK anthem, in which “God save the Queen” was changed to “God save the King”, in reference to the new King Charles III. In one of the stands of Ibrox, a tifo drew the silhouette of the head of the queen on a background of Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom. A fine tribute which nevertheless did not help the Scottish players to win, since the Rangers lost 0-3 against Naples.
In the other Champions League match which took place in the United Kingdom, this time at Stamford Bridge, in London, where Chelsea hosted Salzburg, the anthem was not played in the enclosure but sung spontaneously by a part public. The two teams left with the score of 1-1.