Confusion as Liverpool fans appear to boo Abide With Me before FA Cup final

Published 17:12 14 May 2022 BST

Daniel Brown

Confusion as Liverpool fans appear to boo Abide With Me before FA Cup final

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No one can really understand why

Liverpool supporters appeared to boo Christian hymn 'Abide With Me' prior to the FA Cup final on Saturday, with no obvious explanation as to why. Jurgen Klopp's side lined-up against Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea side at Wembley, with the Reds hoping to keep their slim chances of securing an unprecedented quadruple alive. The Blues, meanwhile, were looking to avoid becoming the first team in history to lose three FA Cup finals in a row. The two sides came into the match having drawn their last three outings against each other, with Liverpool winning on penalties in January to lift the Carabao Cup. Prior to kick off, the 'B Positive Choir' - a group of around 60 singers who suffer with the sickle cell disease or who have close friends or family suffering from it - sand the traditional 'Abide With Me' hymn. However, the hymn, which was written by Lyte in 1847 by Scottish Anglican Henry Francis Lyte, was booed by sections of the Liverpool fanbase in attendance at Wembley. https://twitter.com/FootballJOE/status/1525501706204741632 However, no one was really sure as to why some Reds fans opted to boo the hymn.

How did social media react?

The Independent's Miguel Delaney said: "Not sure why some in the Liverpool end were loudly booing 'Abide with me' at the start. It isn't the national anthem, it isn't a state symbol, it's just a nice solemn hymn that is part of the tradition." https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1525500706345697281

The BBC's Phil McNulty added: "Not quite sure why Liverpool's fans booed "Abide With Me"." https://twitter.com/philmcnulty/status/1525501373437165571 Another journalist, Mark Ogden, wrote: "Booing the national anthem at the Cup Final is fair enough if you have a political grievance against it, but not sure of the merits of booing Abide With Me. Greatest day of the choir's lives probably and drowned out for some reason..." https://twitter.com/MarkOgden_/status/1525501134055546883 Liverpool fans often boo the national anthem, God Save The Queen, due to the regional pride of the Merseyside area trumping any patriotism for the United Kingdom or England. Today was no different, with the Reds fans also booing Prince William as he came out to shake the players' hands. But Abide With Me? Really?

At the time of writing, the final is perfectly poised at 0-0, with Klopp's men enjoying the better chances in the first period. Related links:

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