Sing like no-one’s listening: FA Cup final opens to bizarre scene of Emeli Sande performing much-loved Abide With Me to empty stadium
- Multi-million-selling pop star Emile Sande sang from the top of empty Wembley
- Performance was pre-recorded but played inside stadium on the big screen
- One viewer said ‘It showed how the pandemic has changed the world’
The FA Cup final opened to farcical scenes last night – as the coronavirus pandemic forced multi-million-selling pop star Emile Sande to sing to no-one from the top of empty Wembley Stadium
In a bizarre moment in footballing history the musician performed Abide With Me from Wembley’s rooftop ahead of the match between Arsenal and Chelsea
The performance was pre-recorded but played inside Wembley on the big screen and broadcast to the game’s global TV audience ahead of kick-off.
The musician was beamed out on a big screen inside the cavernous empty stadium
It was the first time an artist has performed from the roof of the stadium and was followed by a show of support for the Heads Up campaign, with the match branded ‘The Heads Up FA Cup Final’.
A viewer said: ‘If anyone was unsure about how much the pandemic has changed the world, they certainly hadn’t by the time the game started.’
Speaking about the display, FA chairman Greg Clarke said: “There’s no doubt that the stadium will look and feel very different, the noise, colour and camaraderie will be sorely missed.
The empty stadium was the grounds for the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal
‘Both clubs will no doubt feel the support of the many millions watching with loved ones from the safety of their own home.