‘Disgraceful’ and ‘disrespectful’: Fans clash over national anthems during England-Argentina match

Atlanta: A fierce off-pitch row erupted before a ball was even kicked at the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina, as rival sets of supporters traded hostile jeers during the pre-match national anthems.

As Thomas Tuchel’s England squad lined up at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the opening notes of "God Save the King" were immediately met with a deafening chorus of boos from the South American contingent. According to reports from All Football, tens of thousands of Argentina fans actively drowned out the music, launching into a rendition of the controversial Spanish football chant: "El que no salta es un inglés" ("Whoever doesn't jump is English"). The interruption left television viewers completely unable to hear the anthem over the broadcast, forcing many to follow the players' lips.

The incident instantly triggered a massive wave of condemnation online. English fans took to social media to brand the behaviour as "disgusting" and "disgraceful," with numerous users criticising a total lack of respect shown towards the national anthem. In retaliation, the travelling Three Lions support loudly jeered the subsequent Argentinian national anthem. Former England captain Stuart Pearce condemned the scenes on World Cup GameDay Live, labelling the display "the most disrespectful I’ve ever known two sets of fans to be so anti each other's anthems".

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The atmosphere in Georgia had already been designated as "high risk" by local security figures and the FBI due to the deep historical and political undertones connecting the two nations, stemming back to the 1982 Falklands War. Pre-match tensions had already intensified after footage circulated online showing a Union Jack being set alight in Buenos Aires, alongside reports of the Argentinian squad singing songs referencing the islands following their quarter-final victory.

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Though Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni pleaded with the public to view the fixture strictly as "a football match," the hostility inside the unsegregated stadium inevitably spilt onto the pitch. A combative encounter saw a multi-player melee break out just three minutes into the game, which eventually ended in a 2-1 victory for Argentina, securing their place in the World Cup final.