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.
Goosebumps 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Racu8Qx8Zk
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 14, 2022
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.”
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.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) May 14, 2022
The BBC’s Phil McNulty added: “Not quite sure why Liverpool’s fans booed “Abide With Me”.”
Not quite sure why Liverpool's fans booed "Abide With Me".
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) May 14, 2022
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…”
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…
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) May 14, 2022
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.
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