'Should be sacked TODAY' - England fans turn on Lee Carsley and say he's 'betrayed' his country after national anthem admission

Carsley has sparked a furore after admitting he won't sing the national anthem before England matches during his spell in charge, as the 50-year-old prepares to lead the Three Lions' senior side for the first time.

England fan @StefanW0lves wrote on X: "Just a reminder that Carsley was born and raised in England and only qualified for Ireland via his grandparents. Sack him"

Another supporter, @JLauder91, added: "What a f*cking clown. Born in Birmingham but Sven (a proud Swede) didn't sing it so it's areet (alright). Sack him."

And user @MichaelWarom wrote: "It's our country he's representing, an honour. Every player/manager should sing it proudly. If you're not singing it, I'd be asking why? It matters. If it doesn't, what does? I'm sure many ex-players would explain what it meant."

"He’s disrespecting the very fabric of England!" wrote @fewpints, while @alexharmstrong said: "Sven Goran-Eriksson sung the national anthem and he wasn’t even from our country. I don’t care if Lee Carsley played for Ireland, but if there’s a political reason why he won’t sing the national anthem then he should quit."

The Daily Mail's Jeff Powell was also highly critical of Carsley. Powell wrote: "Sack him. Ideally, right now. Just before kick-off if needs be. Call him interim, temporary, stand-in or caretaker manager, this is no job for an Englishman who refuses to pay even so much as lip service to our realm. Carsley was born, bred and lives in and around Birmingham. This is more of a betrayal than when England turned to foreign managers."

Carsley's opening game as England manager comes against the country he represented 40 times, Ireland. Even when he donned the green of his grandparent's country he remained silent during the national anthem, explaining that he was solely focused on the football match.

The England job will always come with unnecessary pressure and Carsley has felt that from the off as he now has to win over a certain section of fans. His reign will start with Ireland and then Finland in the UEFA Nations League. Pundits and fans are expecting a more expansive style of football compared to Gareth Southgate.