Stuart Pearce: 'Players don't have to sing anthem'

Team GB men's football team coach Stuart Pearce has insisted that he will not force anybody to sing the national anthem.

A number of Pearce's squad, including captain Ryan Giggs, were criticised for refusing to sing 'God Save The Queen' along with their teammates before their 1-1 draw with Senegal on Thursday evening.

However, Pearce has admitted that he is not bothered by who sings and who doesn't.

"I'd no idea there is a backlash, to be fair," he told reporters. "When you are involved in tournament football, and you are involved in the camp, you don't see anything outside that.

"We know the really important things for us are winning matches, training hard and doing the best you can for Team GB, and that's the only thing that really concerns me or the players.

"Some enjoy singing it, some don't, we have no policy on it."

Pearce's side take on the UAE at Old Trafford tonight.

Written by
Liam Apicella