Soccer Fans Erupt in Shocking Anti-Queen Chant

Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth II) was laid to rest on Monday after ten days of mourning observed worldwide.

While condolences and tributes poured in from all over the world, the traditional hatred among Scots for the British royalty didn’t escape public attention. The Scottish hate for British monarchy manifested weekend football games.

The past weekend in Scotland, fans of Scottish soccer teams were charged not just in support of their favorite teams but against the British monarchy as well. First, it was the Dundee United fans that refused to respect the call for paying respects to Queen Elizabeth by observing a minute of silence before the match on Saturday between Dundee United and the Rangers.

Instead, Dundee United fans chanted together “Lizzie’s in a box” while being booed by the other side.

The next evening, Celtic fans took the expression of their anti-royalty display to more prominence. Before the start of the match between Celtic and St Mirren, Celtic fans came up with their creative way to show lack of respect for the British monarchy. St Mirren had announced that they would hold a minute’s applause instead of silence as a tribute to the deceased Queen.

To break away from the applause, Celtic fans clapped and chanted “if you hate the Royal Family clap your hands.” The ports stadium resounded with the chant and a big part of the crowd clapping made itself visible on video.

And for added visibility, Celtic fans also unfurled a banner that read “IF YOU HATE THE ROYAL FAMILY CLAP YOUR HANDS” during the minute’s applause in memory of the Queen.

Many media sources featured the story of contempt for the Queen and British royalty on display in Scottish soccer events among Scots. Thousands of comments posted on the videos of the incidents took sides one way or the other. The open expression of hatred by Scots directed against British royalty at sporting events is not new.

Just last summer, young Prince George was mocked by some Scots when he was photographed looking sad watching England lose to Italy at the Wembley Stadium (London).

The political and ethnic rivalry of England and Scotland goes back as far as the history of the two territories. Scotland used to be its own kingdom through the medieval times and remained at war with England to stay independent. Scotland finally became part of the Great Britain in 1707 but political movement seeking independence from Britain began in Scotland within the next century.

Polls conducted over the past 10 years estimate that nearly half of Scotland’s population wants independence from the United Kingdom.