#5 England’s singing about the IRA
While England fans referring to World War II and taunting the Germans only tends to happen when the Three Lions play against their German rivals, offensive songs referring to the ‘Troubles’ in Ireland and anti-IRA chants can usually be heard at any England game against any opponents.
The usual song tends to be an adaption of the hymn Give Me Joy In My Heart with the lyrics slightly changed. “Keep St. George in my heart, keep me English” and then “No surrender to the IRA”. Other songs involving flutes and offensive chants towards the Pope have also been heard, too.
Again, it’s a gross misuse of history in football; the IRA has barely been active since at least the late 1990’s now and the ‘Troubles’ largely ended when Tony Blair’s government and the political parties of Ireland drew up the Good Friday Agreement in 1999 and ended open hostilities.
Since the agreement England have only played the Republic of Ireland twice a 1-1 draw in 2013 and a 0-0 draw in 2015 – but the chants still persist. I have no idea why this is, but there’s no denying that they’re some of the most disrespectful chants in football.
