Soccer

Simon Coveney slams 'idiots' who booed God Save the Queen at Aviva Stadium

DUP leader Arlene Foster shakes hands with Tánaiste Simon Coveney as they attend the international soccer friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at the Aviva stadium in Dublin 
DUP leader Arlene Foster shakes hands with Tánaiste Simon Coveney as they attend the international soccer friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at the Aviva stadium in Dublin  DUP leader Arlene Foster shakes hands with Tánaiste Simon Coveney as they attend the international soccer friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at the Aviva stadium in Dublin 

TÁNAISTE Simon Coveney has hit out at "idiots" who booed as God Save the Queen was played ahead of the Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland friendly at the Aviva Stadium last night.

Mr Coveney took to Twitter to say that he was "embarrassed" that sections of the crowd did not respect the playing of the song which is used as the national anthem by the Northern Ireland football team.

The game in Dublin was a scoreless draw.

Mr Coveney, who was at the match, met with DUP leader Arlene Foster in the stands.

After the game, Ms Foster tweeted in response to Mr Coveney, thanking him for his post on the anthem.

The use of God Save the Queen by the Northern Ireland team has proved controversial in the past, with suggestions it could be replaced by a song that isn't also used by the England team.

Scotland uses Flower of Scotland before football matches while Land of my Fathers is played ahead of Wales games but Northern Ireland does not have an official national anthem.

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