Even in the political cauldron of a country that we live in today, I still believe that politics should be kept out of sport. The debate surrounding the playing of the National Anthem before Northern Ireland football internationals has reached new and unprecedented heights in recent weeks, in the wake of Ulster Unionist Party officer and Northern Ireland fan Kenny Donaldson’s call for a new sporting anthem. Whilst the media and politicians have been all too quick to air their views on the contentious and emotive issue, the opinions of those who really matter, the Northern Ireland football community, are in danger of being ignored.
BY JONNY MADILL