UEFA rejects requests from Chelsea, Manchester City and Rangers to play national anthem

West Ham fans sang God Save the Queen before their Europa Conference League match last Thursday (Action Images via Reuters)

UEFA has turned down requests from Chelsea, Manchester City and Rangers to play the national anthem before their Champions League games on Wednesday evening.

All three British clubs have asked UEFA if they would be permitted to play God Save the King but the governing body has rejected the proposal in order to maintain a ‘subdued atmosphere’ inside stadiums.

UEFA had already announced that the Champions League anthem will not be played in England or Scotland as a mark of respect for the Queen.

A statement from UEFA read: ‘There will be no anthems played – this also includes the UEFA Champions League anthem – on the basis of maintaining a consistent pre-match ceremony with a subdued atmosphere and without any celebratory activities across all UK venues to show respect as we did last Thursday.’

However, MailPlus report that Rangers are ready to defy UEFA’s decision and allow supporters inside the stadium to sing the national anthem after the minute’s silence.

A tribute to Queen Elizabeth II can be seen on a big screen before the UEFA Champions League match at Anfield on Tuesday evening (PA)

Only Rangers supporters are allowed inside Ibrox due to policing resources, while the match has been moved from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Before their Europa Conference League match last Thursday, West Ham fans sang God Save the Queen during their minute’s silence.

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Across all Champions League matches involving British clubs, players will wear black armbands and will take part in a minute’s silence.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Europa League match against PSV on Thursday has been postponed due to a lack of police resources ahead of The Queen’s state funeral on Monday.

Arsenal are confident that they will be able to rearrange the fixture to avoid a forfeit.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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