Fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were heard shouting during the minute’s silence ahead of Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Leicester on Saturday afternoon.
The minute’s silence – which was followed by a rendition of the national anthem – was punctuated by audible shouts from supports, although it is unclear whether they were fans of the home or away side.
Tribute was being paid to Queen Elizabeth II with this weekend’s round of fixtures the first since her passing on Thursday September 8.
Fans at Tottenham’s clash with Leicester were heard interrupting the minute’s silence
And the actions of a select few in attendance have sparked outrage on Twitter, with those to break the show of respect harshly criticised on the social media platform.
One Twitter user was clearly shocked by what was heard before kick-off on Saturday, writing: ‘Just walked in to the beginning of the Leicester v Tottenham game to absolutely disgusting language towards the queen in a minutes silence. VILE! Should be ashamed of your fans @SpursOfficial @LCFC.’
A second shared in the shock, and added: ‘To the small number of Spurs / Leicester fans who didn’t remain silent for one minute during the silence for the Queen, you are an utter disgrace to both club and country. F*** off’
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And another seemed to think the interruptions coming from the Spurs support, saying: ‘Embarrassed and disgusted buy some of my fellow Spurs fans in the stadium who couldn’t stay quiet for the minute’s silence,’ accompanied by an angry emoji.
A fourth also suggested that the home fans could be to blame, writing: ‘A few fans have let down the entire club down in that minute silence. Embarrassed to be a Spurs fan after that,’ followed by a face-palm emoticon.
But a fifth Twitter questioned the logic of reacting to shouts during a minute’s silence, asking: ‘Spurs – Why, in a minutes silence, do you hear so many shouting “shut the f*** up” as loud as possible?
‘Surely it’s better to shake your head in disgust or give them a glare? I don’t understand how hard it is to show respect for 1 minute.’
This weekend’s round of fixtures is the first since the Queen’s passing on September 8
Clubs across the country have come together to co-operate in the aftermath of the Queen’s passing, observing a minute’s silence prior to kick-offs as tribute, and even playing the national anthem.
Players and officials have been officially advised issued in a statement by the Premier League to wear black armbands on the league’s return, 12 days after the last match was completed.
However, viewers have been almost unanimous in their condemnation of the actions of those who chose to violate the sign of respect, irrespective of which side the fans support, and even noted how broadcasters were quick to cover the lack of respect.
One viewer said: ‘Fans talking over the silence disrespectful.’
A second added: ‘Minute silence at Spurs so bad that had to mute it on 5live.’
Referees have been advised by the Premier League to wear black armbands this weekend
Another Twitter user wrote: ‘Audible shouting (?) during the minute’s silence before Spurs v Leicester so the producer of at least the American coverage cranked up the white noise to deafening levels.’
One user, was keen to find out which side’s fans spoiled the tributes, writing: ‘So whose fans disrupted the minute silence at spurs.
‘Spurs or Leicester. Idiots.’
But a fifth fan was quick to point out that the actions of a select few do not represent the opinions of the clubs in question, saying: ‘So a few at Forest and now a few at Spurs, disrupting the minute silence.
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‘A few out of many thousands does NOT DEFINE the whole support of both clubs.’
One user, was keen to find out which side’s fans spoiled the tributes, writing: ‘So whose fans disrupted the minute silence at spurs. Spurs or Leicester. Idiots.’
Though football has been quick to show its collective respect there have been several examples of games in which a minority of fans have been unable to show their respect, audibly interrupting the tributes.
And sections of the support at Dundee United’s SPL clash with Rangers could be heard singing vile chants, such as ‘Lizzie’s in a box’ and jeers during the silence, were audible from the away end at Rangers’ Ibrox.
Chants of ‘Lizzie’s in a box’ were audible in the away end during the minute’s silence
Sections of Dundee United fans interrupted the minute’s silence before their game against Rangers
The vast majority of the crowd impeccably observed the minute’s silence at Ibrox
Rangers fans, who had turned Ibrox into a Union Jack flag before their Champions League game with Napoli on Wednesday in a show of affection for the Queen, responded with loud boos before they broke out into a rendition of the national anthem.
Likewise in Friday’s fixture between Nottingham Forest and Fulham at the City Ground, the silence was met with some home fans shouting ‘You Reds’, and others telling them to ‘shut up’, according to Sportsmail‘s reporter at the stadium, Adam Shergold.
However, at Villa Park the silent tribute to Her Majesty was impeccably observed by both home and travelling supporters, as suggested by reports.
At Villa Park, Aston Villa’s matchday programme paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II
Nottingham Forest’s City Ground played host to Fulham in one of the first league fixtures back
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