FAI to decide on British anthem

THE Queen may be coming to Ireland this month but it’s not yet clear if ‘God Save The Queen’ will be coming to the Aviva Stadium.

The British national anthem has never been played in the south ahead of an international football match between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and, according to FAI boss John Delaney, security considerations will ultimately dictate whether or not it will be played before the Carling Nations Cup game between the two sides at the new stadium on May 24.

History was already made in the competition when the anthem was played before Northern Ireland took on Scotland in the same venue in February, marking the first time that ‘God Save The Queen’ had been officially aired at a Northern Ireland soccer match in the Republic.