FA stance made clear on sacking Lee Carsley over refusing to sing national anthem
The FA have made their feelings clear on whether they will sack Lee Carsley or not over his refusal to sing the national anthem.
The England interim boss is set to take charge of his first game in charge since stepping into the role to replace Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions face the Republic of Ireland, who Carsley played for 40 times, in Dublin at the Aviva Stadium.
And the former Everton midfielder, who was born in Birmingham but represented the Republic of Ireland through his grandmother, has started an uproar by insisting he will not sing God Save The King before kick-off, as is customary before international football matches.
Lee Carsley will not sing the national anthem on Saturday
But the FA will not sack Carsley based on this refusal, report The Times.
They claim it is his personal choice and will not affect his chances of becoming Southgate's permanent successor.
The FA are still looking for a successor to the 54-year-old, who resigned two days after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain this summer.
Carsley is one of the favourites to take the role on full-time after being promoted from his post as boss of the Under-21s.
When Carsley was asked about singing the national anthem, he said: “This is something that I always struggled with when I was playing for Ireland.
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"The gap between your warm-up, your coming on to the pitch and the delay with the anthems. So it’s something that I have never done.
“I was always really focussed on the game and my first actions of the game.
"I really found that in that period I was wary about my mind wandering off.
"I was really focused on the football and I have taken that into coaching.
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Lee Carsley insisted he has never sang the national anthem
PA
“We had the national anthem with the Under-21s also and I am in a zone at that point.
"I am thinking about how the opposition are going to set up and our first actions within the game.
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Lee Carsley will not be sacked for his decision not to sing the anthem
PA
"I fully respect both anthems and understand how much they mean to both countries. It’s something I am really respectful of.”
When asked if he ever sings the national anthem from his days as a player and coach, he replied: "No."
England take on the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night in Dublin in a Nations League clash.