<< photo by Nicholas Green >>
Liverpool’s history of booing the national anthem can be traced back to the 1980s, a time when the city was hit hard by deindustrialization and anti-establishment feelings were rampant. The Hillsborough disaster of 1989, in particular, further entrenched these feelings, and booing the national anthem at football matches became widespread. Many Liverpudlians saw themselves as outsiders, separate from the rest of the country, and their anti-establishment views remain a cornerstone of the city’s culture to this day.
Liverpool fans’ booing of the national anthem is a way for some of the club’s supporters to voice their opposition towards the establishment, and it’s a chance to do so before a worldwide audience. The King’s coronation on Saturday also comes at a time when many are feeling the devastating effects of the severe cost of living crisis that is now impacting the whole of the UK. High inflation, wage stagnation, and rising energy prices have left millions on the brink of poverty, while the UK government has spent tens of millions on a lavish celebration.
Moreover, Liverpool is a city that has long been associated with social and economic inequality and is home to Fans’ Supporting Foodbanks, an initiative that aims to tackle food poverty in the UK. Thus, the decision to play the national anthem during Saturday’s match has drawn significant criticism from those who see it as tone-deaf and an unnecessary expenditure in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
In the end, it is up to individuals to decide how they want to mark occasions like the coronation. Liverpool fans have made it clear that they do not want to mark such occasions by singing “God Save the King.” The boos heard at Anfield on Saturday tell us that fans will not be silenced, and their voices will continue to be heard. As Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said, “This is definitely a subject I cannot have a proper opinion about it. I’m pretty sure a lot of people in this country will enjoy the coronation, some will maybe not really be interested, and some will not like it. That’s all over the country.”
