Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has become famed for failing to sing England’s national anthem.
In fact, Rooney is one of a line of stars to stay silent, lips sealed, when God Save The Queen is played before England games.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville and Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole are others who are known for not getting very visibly patriotic pre-game.
The reason we bring it up, is because Serbia have banned midfielder Adem Ljajic from international duty for refusing the sing the national anthem.
The Serbian FA said: “Ljajic has been sent home from the team’s European tour and the decision is based on Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic’s rule-book stipulating a code of conduct which Ljajic has breached.
“The player will only be allowed to return to the national team if he changes his attitude and officially notifies Mihajlovic that he has done so.”
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Now Fabio Capello was known for his rules and code of conduct, but he never went as far as to order players to sing the anthem.
Ljajic, pictured, is said to have refused to do on religious or cultural grounds, and his season is going from bad to worse after being attacked by his own coach at Fiorentina last month.
Singing the national anthem looks good on television and everything, but it hardly matters once the game kicks-off does it?
If the rule had been in place for England, Wayne Rooney would have been banned a long time ago.
It is one we don’t recommend Roy Hodgson brings in, it’s a totally pointless stipulation, and we suspect more players are going to fall foul of Sinisa Mihaijlovic and his rule book in the future.
A good rule or a bizarre one?
image: © yoca91
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