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Wales Online
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Alan Johnson & Annette Belcher-BM & Alan Johnson

Football fans jeered Prince William at Liverpool and Chelsea FA final

The Duke of Cambridge was met with jeers and boos at the FA Cup final. Prince William was booed by fans when he attended the match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Wembley.

William, who is President of the FA, was jeered shortly before kick off, while he was being introduced to players. And during God Save The Queen and the hymn Abide With Me, obscene gestures could then be see, the Mirror has reported.

And the fans' behaviour has since angered political figures. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: "I utterly condemn any fans who booed Prince William at Wembley today.

"The FA Cup final should be an occasion when we come together as a country. It should not be ruined by a minority of fans' totally shameful behaviour. In this year of all years – the Queen's Platinum Jubilee – this is dreadful." Conservative MP and former Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said: "It is utterly unacceptable and disgraceful that fans booed Prince William. I would urge the FA to take all necessary action and pursue those responsible."

Liverpool Echo football writer Connor O'Neill, meanwhile, explained why fans of the Anfield club choose to distance themselves from the National Anthem. "The origins of why the red half of Merseyside boo the national anthem can be traced back to the 1980s," he said.

"The Conservative government's 'managed decline' of the city was then followed by the failings of the government following the Hillsborough disaster further entrenched those feelings. A flag regularly spotted at Anfield reads 'scouse not English' and will most likely be on display at most games. While in recent years, the people of Merseyside feel they continue to be let down by the state and believe the foodbanks outside Anfield and Goodison (Park, home of Everton FC) is evidence of widening inequalities."

Liverpool beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after extra time. No jeering could be heard while William handed out winners' medals to the Reds' players afterwards.

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