Rangers haven’t had the best start to their 2022/23 season, with a 4-0 loss to their rivals, Celtic, in the Old Firm Derby. This puts them firmly behind their fellow Glaswegians in the Scottish Premiership. Additionally, defeats to Ajax and Napoli have them sitting at the bottom of their Champions League group, with the mighty Liverpool still to play.
However, it is not the poor performances on the field that put the Glasgow side in the headlines this week. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September and the cancellation of all Football League games over the weekend, the midweek Champions League fixtures of British sides Chelsea, Manchester City, and Rangers were viewed as a welcome release for fans amidst the sombre news dominating the week’s headlines. Following a moment of silence, the clubs requested that ‘God Save The King’ be played before kickoff. UEFA denied the request, claiming that their ruling is in keeping with the protocol that there would be an absence of any music played before this week’s games, including the Champions League anthem.
This ruling didn’t stop Rangers’ official Twitter account from inviting the 50,000 fans in attendance to sing the national anthem. The Union Jack was also on display in tribute to the late Queen in the notorious Broomloan Road stand. After a moment of silence, The Ibrox erupted into song, bellowing the famous tune for all of Glasgow (and possibly Scotland) to hear.
Rangers weren’t the only team to go against the orders of UEFA. Before Chelsea clashed with RB Salzburg, two Chelsea Pensioners laid wreaths on the pitch. Fans then draped a banner reading “RIP YOUR MAJESTY” from the Shed end of Stamford Bridge, and subsequently erupted into an impromptu chorus of the updated national anthem. For his first game in charge of Chelsea, manager Graham Potter emerged from the tunnel in an all-black suit, clapping for the home supporters as he took his place on the sideline.
As of yet, it is unknown whether UEFA will take action against the two clubs or their supporters for disregarding the ban on music.