Posted on 06/02/2005 1:51:27 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
WHAT, NO ANTHEM?
Jun 2, 2005 3:30 pm US/Eastern
U.S. and international soccer officials are puzzled over the acting governor's outrage that the "Star-Spangled Banner" was not played before a match between England and Colombia.
Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who attended Tuesday's match at Giants Stadium, was steamed when he realized that the U.S. national anthem would not be played along with the anthems of the countries in the match.
He said he immediately asked game organizers why it wasn't played and was told, "Governor, we're really very sorry. The British people don't want to hear it," The Star-Ledger of Newark reported in Thursday's newspapers.
The governor fired off letters to the chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which manages the Meadowlands complex, and to Britain's ambassador to the U.S.
"The failure to play our national anthem was disrespectful not only to us as a the host, it was disrespectful to our country, the teams, the sport and all involved. This shouldn't happen in New Jersey, and it shouldn't happen anywhere," Codey wrote.
George Zoffinger, chief executive of the sports authority, said not playing the U.S. anthem before an event at the complex is a violation of the authority's policy.
However, playing only the anthems of the two teams competing a soccer match is standard for such international games, including the World Cup.
(Excerpt) Read more at 1010wins.com ...
I think this is the more relevant quote.
This seems a bit rude to their host country, but I guess there is some logic to it.
Should we play the Chinese anthem before every Olympic match, just because it's played there?
A non-issue....
'I think this is the more relevant quote.'
So do I.
The British people don't want to hear it? Another reason to play it.
If it is the policy of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to play it, and the brits and colombians don't want to hear it, then they should go play some where else.
Year after year, the US probably hosts more friendly matches between foreign teams than any other country in the world, so the cookie cutter solution is not applicable here. The USSF oversees the match, so our anthem should be played.
The Home Depot Center in LA is out, then, because they even play our national anthem at games between Mexican teams, and they play our anthem first. New Jersey is looking pretty bad when LA beats them at patriotism.
If only they had played "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." ;)
Won't it be played at the opening and closing ceremonies?
"...New Jersey is looking pretty bad when LA beats them at patriotism..."
well in the merger between US and Mexico one of the things worked out was that the US anthem be used.
Wish I could be the Govenor, 'cause I would have said. "Ok, the British people don't want to hear it. That's ok. But the American people don't want to see this soccer game, now quickly get the frickin' hell out of our stadium!"
Whoops... I missed that. We have competing issues here 1) traditionally, a neutral host country does not have its anthem played, and 2) the hosting facility requires the anthem. Someone should have read the regulations ahead of time and worked something out. Probably just carelessness, rather than any ill-will.
To be honest, I don't know. But it wouldn't be played before every match.
This complaint seems a little much for me. Almost like we're looking for reasons to be offended. Maybe they should have played the US anthem. Maybe the governor should have a chat with the USSF to make sure that they do in the future. But I'm wary of any politician who spurts outrage. Do we really trust that this Democrat is genuine?
right, but we had to agree to a spelling change: Jose can you see?
LOL!
If it is in the rules, then the rules should be followed.
But if this particular game was part of a larger competition (and I can't remember what the article said right now), where our national anthem would be performed at the beginning of the entire event, then I don't see the need to play it at each game. If, on the other hand, it was one game and it was being played on our soil, then our anthem should be played. And no Brit should have anything to say about it at all.
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