The Irish FA have turned down a request from Cliftonville to ditch the national anthem from the pre-match pageantry from Saturday's Cup final.

Cliftonville, who have a primarily Catholic following, had written to the FA requesting that the anthem not be played ahead of the game, but following consideration, the FA elected to retain the playing of the anthem ahead of kick-off.

The Association confirmed the news in a statement to The Belfast Telegraph.

Following a written request from Cliftonville Football Club the Board of the Irish Football Association met tonight (3 May), and considered the playing of the National Anthem at the Irish Cup final. The members expressed sympathy for Cliftonville's position, but decided that the current Board policy, agreed in August 2013, should stand. Therefore, the National Anthem will be played before the match.

Prior to that agreement in 2013, the IFA agreed to drop the playing of the anthem before that year's cup final between Cliftonville and Glentoran. The IFA said they made the decision "in the interests of fostering a 'politically neutral environment' for the game", and also dropped the anthem before the 2009 final between Cliftonville and Crusaders.


Cliftonville face Coleraine in the final at Windsor Park tomorrow afternoon, with kick off slated for 2.30pm.

[Belfast Telegraph]