Sections of English media turn on Lee Carsley before Ireland v England over comments
The former Ireland international's decision not to sing the English national anthem is front page news for a number of papers in England
Lee Carsley has angered sections of media in England before his side have even kicked a ball over comments he made about national anthems.
The former Ireland international's decision not to sing the English national anthem is front page news for a number of papers across the water ahead of Saturday's clash with Ireland in Dublin.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Carsley stated that he would not sing 'God Save the King' during his time in charge of England.
READ MORE: England predicted team v Ireland under interim manager Lee Carsley
“This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland,” Birmingham-born Carsley said of anthems.
“The gap between your warm-up, your coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So it’s something that I have never done.
“I was always really focused on the game and my first actions of the game. I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off.
“I was really focused on the football and I have taken that in to coaching.
“We had the national anthem with the Under-21s also and I am in a zone at that point.
“I am thinking about how the opposition are going to set up and our first actions within the game.
“I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries. It’s something I am really respectful of.”
These comments have infuriated journalists at a number of English papers, with a headline on the front of the Daily Mail reading: "Disbelief and anger as England football boss says he WON'T sing national anthem."
A similar headline on a comment piece by the Daily Telegraph's Jason Burt stated: "If Carsley doesn't sing anthem he can't expect to manage England."
Former Ireland international and Preston-born Kevin Kilbane said the Telegraph headline was "totally irrelevant and downright ignorance". Carsley's former Ireland teammate added: "I'm not sure I ever recall Capello or Eriksen singing it."
Carsley takes interim charge of England for the first time on Saturday, while Heimir Hallgrimsson will also manage Ireland for the first time since being named boss during the summer.
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