Manchester City fans have been booing the so-called UEFA Champions League anthem since the former City player Mario Balotelli was racially abused during a Europa League tie against Porto. The club was let down, especially with the inadequate punishment when UEFA acted by giving the Portuguese side a measly 20,000 euro fine.
Then there was the time when CSKA Moscow had their stadium closed to spectators following years of persistent racial abuse and bad behaviour by their supporters towards players of ethnic background.
Originally, Blues had purchased tickets for the Champions League tie. They had booked flights and hotel rooms only to be told at the last minute that UEFA had closed the Moscow stadium and the game was to be played behind closed doors.
Fans were out of pocket, frustrated and then low and behold while watching the match live on TV hundreds of CSKA fans were seen, supporting their team from the terraces.
Did UEFA act and place sanctions on the home side for breaking their rules?
What do you think!
Then there was the FFP incident. MCFC was fined £millions and embargoed for having a full squad for their season’s Champions League participation. And yet PSG, AC Milan and the like, who were spending similar amounts failed to receive similar punishments.
I nearly forgot – in 2015 UEFA considered charging City after Blues booed the anthem (we call it a marketing remix now – see below) at a home game. Fans were livid but continued to ignore Europe’s governing body. We continue to this day.
The list goes on.
Now you can see why Blues believe UEFA are determined to hang City out to dry.
The So-Called UCL Anthem Is Not What it Seems
I try and learn something new every day, and today I learned something about the so-called UCL anthem. And it’s not what it seems.
The theme tune is nothing more than a marketing ploy, and it should NOT be called an anthem.
The tune was composed by George Frideric Handel, born 1685 in Halle, Germany. He later became a British citizen and died in 1759 in London. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.
The classical tune is called Zadok the Priest and was rearranged by Tony Britten in 1992 after UEFA commissioned the British composer to come up with a catchy rhythm for TV advertising breaks.
Handel – Zadok the Priest
The anthem is not an anthem, but a ditty and I for one have changed my tune (see what I did?).
I have been dead against booing the melody, but as it’s an early 90’s remix, I shall boo until my lungs bleed.
Here is the marketing remix.
Nah, I’ll end up annoying the dog with my boooooos.
In short…UEFA can go and ‘do one.’