I've sent the following to the editor for publication in tomorrow's Belfast Telegraph, but it's a little lengthy for the letters page and am not holding my breath.
Nationalist players who opt to play for the Republic of Ireland are quick to cite the Belfast Agreement with regard to their right to an Irish passport; but appear less keen to recognise the Agreement’s more fundamental tenet – the principle of consent. This principle, subscribed to en masse by all relevant peoples and governments, as well as the international community, recognises Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom for as long as its people wish it. In short, GSTQ is played before international games at Windsor Park because it’s NI’s national anthem. We shouldn’t expect nationalist players to favour this; but in a spirit of tolerance we should expect them to respect it. By using it as an excuse not to play for Northern Ireland, they’re rejecting the principle of consent.
It’s important to note that Scotland and Wales don’t play their own national anthem. Instead they opt to not play their national anthem in favour of more local folk songs. This is a significant variation from the norms of international football. By doing so they have fulfilled their own prophesy by abandoning GSTQ and leaving it to become the “English anthem”. It would be a shame if Northern Ireland provided the coup de grace.
Those who play for Northern Ireland or attend the games either recreationally or professionally can be in no doubt that the experience is overwhelmingly distinctive to our wee country. A stranger wandering into Windsor Park on an international night could not possibly mistake the occasion for an England, Scotland, Wales or Republic of Ireland game. For nationalist players – and the media – to focus on the 45-second pre-game rendition of our national anthem and ignore the hours of other Northern Irish-specific content is surely political obsession.
Regardless of the legalities, the FAI is clearly acting in an unsporting manner by actively recruiting players from outside the 26 counties; indeed, taking these players from their nearest neighbour and supposed friend. The primary focus should therefore be on the actions of the FAI and not the IFA. In the absence of an all-Ireland team, we should also be more challenging about what motivates young nationalists to represent the 26 counties (that they’re not from) as opposed to the six counties (that they are). Rather than what’s played by the brass band before kick-off, more likely factors are the greater on-field success of the RoI and its absence of cultural pluralism. Put simply, there may be more pull than push factors at work.
