Entirely disagree. You don't come to somebody else's country and disrespect it by turning your back on their flag and their national anthem.. As has been pointed out, it's a symbol of our nation as much as God & Queen. He's not just disrespecting the Queen, but the whole country. The country that provides him with a very nice living, I might point out.
That is the country as defined by you it is not the country as defined by everyone. Who gave you the right to dictate how others should behave? You don't even live in this mythical place that you seem to hold in such high regard. Countries for the most part, do not provide people with livings they just define the terms under which you may try to make one.
That's right! I live in another country - Spain. I respect their laws and customs. I'm a guest in their country and as such show respect. Personally, I think that Franco was a a nasty dictator, but I would never express those views as it can cause offense amongst the great number of Spanish who still revere Franco. I don't care what this idiot's beliefs are, he should have kept them to himself on that occasion, just as I do mine. Whichever way you want to couch it, England provides him with a handsome living. I assume he pays taxes there, and is happy to live there.
"Who gave you the right to dictate how others should behave?" The dictatorship I have now established ?? (Please have your coat and shoes on, it will make things so much quicker when my agents imminently knock on your door)
It is my view that a widespread practice of participants disrespecting another nation's flag or anthem would lead to the end of international sport. It is bad enough when crowds do it, imagine the result of the participants doing it. No Olympics; no World Cup; no Champions League; no Europa League. A view of a utopian society where nationalities cease to matter and flags and anthems are put aside can only come out of a respect and understanding for all. Not out of an eye for an eye where everyone becomes blind. If the rights of an individual to express his dislike for a nation's anthem is acceptable on a sporting field, what comes next the right to express dislike for someone's religion, colour, creed? If you imagine this bloke being selected for Ireland and pulling the same stunt at Wembley what would be the outcome? I'm pretty sure that the Irish FA wouldn't select him. If they did it is all the right wing morons in this country need to commit all manner of retaliatory acts. Respect is a good thing...along with hope, perhaps, one of the best of things.
You do not keep your views to your self at all you are endeavouring to make others conform to your beliefs. Your respect should be towards people not states.
It's not a matter of wanting, or trying to make others conform to my beliefs. It's something far more basic, fundamental to most reasonable people, it's called respect! And that ignorant ****er doesn't have any. My respect is to people, that's why I don't risk losing that respect by publicly insulting them. Him, I'm happy to insult as he's lost any right to my respect.
The United Kingdom does not consist entirely of people of Viking origin all living in Essex. It is a great assortment of people from all over the world with different beliefs and religions and no religion. You cannot shoe horn all these disparate people in to one set of traditions or behavior. People living in the UK will have their own reasons for doing so it is not for others to dictate how or why they should live here. That applies to the UK because it exists in it's present form because it was an imperial power gaining it's wealth by exploiting other countries on a grand scale. Your views, as quaint and old fashioned as they are, no longer hold true, I am pleased to say, despite the best efforts of the Establishment. The Union Jack to many people in the UK, including native born, like me, is a symbol of exploitation and oppression it is indeed known in some parts of the UK as 'The Butchers Apron' If you think it should be respected that is your choice, but you have NO CHANCE of imposing that view on others, I am very pleased to say.
I am not sure why you seem so keen to believe I am trying to make you believe what I do? I have already said that McClean is free to believe what he likes and I object to his views very deeply. I object to him doing so on a sporting field because to allow it is to destroy the premise of sporting competition - one of respect for your team mates and opponent(s) even if that respect goes against his personal political beliefs. It would end international sporting competition in no time at all. The triumph of the rights of the individual over those of society will lead to anarchy as we are not capable as a species of regulating our personal desires. Hence, the need for laws and conventions of acceptable forms of behavour. So much better to shake someone's hand on meeting them and attempt to find common ground than say "**** You!" Utopian beliefs of total self-determination are so very far away from where we find ourselves today. It is far better to have a modicum of respect for all than total disrespect for some. I don't think asking for respect for a representative piece of music of a nation of people is very much to ask and if we as a species can't muster that between us then we really have sunk to a low that will be hard to recover from. Only my belief, you are free to believe and act contrarily as you see fit.
Once again you only conceive competitive sport in the way the establishment has defined it. A game of football between say England and Germany will be supported in much the same way as we support our clubs. We decide which one we want to win. That might be because we live in one of those countries or come from there or just chose it for the sake of enjoying the game. It's important that you want one side to win if you are to fully enjoy the spectacle of football. Watching as a neutral doesn't work for me, as I suspect for most people, which is why we all pick our team in the first place. However that does not mean that opportunist state establishments of whatever type should be allowed to hijack these feelings for their own political ends, but of course they do all over the world. The Modern Olympics were set up to celebrate the individual not the state. Football matches were arranged between clubs not between states. This particular state tried to ban football altogether through 6 royal reigns and the Queen has the front to turn up to cup finals If you wish to support all this political crap when you are watching the game you love then that is your choice, I don't.
Let me be clear btw, I am not supporting McClean, attack him for his tackle on Dembele or his dangerous driving and I am with you. Attacking him for disrespecting a flag that many of us believe deserves none is a different matter.
It's a fact that anthems are played at these events. You have a choice to respect them or not. There is no vegetarian option.
I do not understand why, at England matches, we have to put up with the anthem of the United Kingdom, when the Welsh and the Sots have their own. It is such an awful dirge and not at all inspiring. We definitely need an anthem for England and a new one for the UK with no words for either of them. Rooney will not be shown up so much then, as far as singing goes. I don't think it will turn him into a footballer though!
It's San Miguel. My political beliefs have nothing to do with this issue, neither should McLean's - that's my point! And yes, I get it fine thanks. We just fundamentally disagree.
He didn't signal play on, as in advantage, he signalled the McClean got the ball, which is even worse! Either the 4th official or linesman has a word in his ear because he's already running off to catch up with play when he gets it. Disgraceful refereeing. 1hr 7m if anyone wants to watch the imbecile at work again: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06s10t3/match-of-the-day-20152016-05122015
