Adil Ray brands football fans booing German national anthem at Euro 2020 ‘despicable’

Adil Ray has blasted football fans who booed the German national anthem when they took on England on Tuesday at Euro 2020 and urged them to represent their country with ‘honour and class’.

On Thursday’s Good Morning Britain the presenter responded to guest Jeffrey Archer’s claim that the match, in which English triumphed 2-0, had a ‘friendly’ atmosphere.

He added that people who may have been watching the game from home might not have heard the jeers as ‘they turned the music up’ to drown it out.

When co-host Kate Garraway revealed Adil had been in the crowd, he shared: ‘My concern is this. It was absolutely fantastic but there was moments before the game.

‘The booing of the knee which we almost expect now, which is ridiculous, but there was the booing of the German national anthem and it wasn’t just by a few. I don’t think it got picked up by TV because they turned the music up halfway through the booing.

‘But I just thought it was despicable. Jeffrey I don’t remember that happening in the past.’

England triumphed 2-0 over Germany (Picture: Getty)

Archer said: ‘Surely we’ve reached an age now where there’s an entire new generation of Germans who shouldn’t be treated this way. What happened over a four or five year period in Germany is not their fault. It was a wonderful match, it was a wonderful victory and let’s applaud the Germans as well.’

Kate added that booing was ‘ghastly’ but agreed with Archer that that ‘wasn’t the vibe around the country’.

Adil added: ‘That’s because they drowned it out with the music. I felt so sorry for the German fans who have to experience that and they were so gracious.

Adil urged England fans to celebrate with ‘honour and class’ (Picture: ITV)

‘At the end when they lost they were still waving their flags, it was incredible. What is winning in sport about? It’s not really about putting the ball in the back of the net, it is about the reputation and the honour of you and your country.

‘If your opposition are gonna go away thinking, “They just booed our national anthem, they’ve been sending xenophobic tweets to a young girl who was crying at the game.

‘I know it’s only a small minority but come on, what is the point in supporting your team if you’re not gonna do it with honour, class and decorum.’

England fans have already been criticised by the likes of Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand for booing the opposing team and at players deciding to take a knee to protest racial injustice.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

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