Gary Lineker defends Lee Carsley for not singing the national anthem

Lineker said he found the anger directed towards Carsley 'bonkers'

Carsley was taking charge of his first game as England's interim manager as the Three Lions faced Ireland in Dublin in their opening Nations League game.

But the 50-year-old angered some parts of the England fan base as he didn't sing the national anthem God Save the King.

The coach had made it clear before the game that he wouldn't be singing the UK national anthem. During his career, Carsley made 40 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, and he explained before the weekend's match that he never sang the Irish anthem either during his playing days.

This didn't stop him being criticised by some for his lack of singing though.

Now, England legend Gary Lineker has defended the coach, saying he finds the whole debate "bonkers."

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker suggested fans, pundits and the media should focus on footballing matters on the pitch, instead of whether or not Carsely was singing God Save the King.

He said: "I find it bonkers. If someone chooses not to sing it doesn’t [matter]…

"I remember some players not singing because they were too shy. I used to sing a bit but not too loud because my voice is terrible.

"I always felt a little self-conscious singing on a football pitch, I didn’t feel comfortable with it.

"I don’t know, I just think it’s a bit weird."

Alan Shearer agreed, saying: "You’re going to be judged on bloody football results, not whether you sing the national anthem or not."

Speaking in the build-up to England's game in Dublin, Carsley told the media he had "always struggled" with singing the national anthem when he played for Ireland.

He said: “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 focused 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 in to coaching.”

Carsley also never sang God Save the King when he was the manager of the England Under-21s.