Jonathan Liew: Fans, anthems and the battle for who controls the public space

Of course, to anyone with even a passing familiarity with fan culture, the fact that Liverpool fans booed the anthem is neither surprising nor – really – all that interesting

PROTEST: Liverpool fans hold up a sign saying 'Not My King' while booing the national anthem before the Premier League match at Anfield. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

"We’ve fought wars," pleads Peter Shilton, his voice breaking with emotion. "People have died to protect our national anthem. Every country has its national anthem, and they’re very proud of it. And, you know, we’re one of the top ones. It’s sad that a small minority feel they have to do this." 

Alas, I was abroad over the weekend and thus missed out on most of the piping hot coronation discourse that many of you will have enjoyed. As it happened I was in Germany: in many ways the royal family’s spiritual home, even if – in Shilton’s reading of history – it did launch an unsuccessful attempt to invade the national anthem in 1939.