Prince William was booed at the FA Cup final, and many were disappointed with the way the crowd behaved. Several experts weighed in on the situation and supported the Duke of Cambridge.
Prince William Booed At the FA Cup Finals: An Issue Or Not?
Prince William, the president of the Football Association, was introduced to Chelsea and Liverpool players before the finals kicked off. However, thousands of spectators booed the Duke of Cambridge.
Finding Freedom co-author Omid Scobie also shared a video from the event on Twitter. According to him, it was "an unexpected moment" when the Liverpool fans booed the second in line to the throne.
"My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong, Twitter) is that it's still felt there was an establishment cover-up over the Hillsborough disaster and getting justice for it," Scobie wrote in the caption.
Some also made obscene hand gestures while the royal stood signing God Save the Queen. The outburst was denounced by several experts in the political spectrum.
Meanwhile, others said it wasn't Prince William who was booed because fans usually do it. It wasn't directed to the Duke of Cambridge because Liverpool fans always do it.
"They didn’t boo Prince William especially, Liverpool fans always boo the anthem and whatever royal is up there. Please don’t make it more than it is," one commented on Scobie.
"That is not a new thing, football fans normally boo anthems," another added.
Prince William Being Booed At FA Cup Finals Was 'Unacceptable And Disgraceful'
Meanwhile, some felt that regardless of the reason, it wasn't appropriate to boo Prince William, the president of the Football Association. The behavior of the crowd raised eyebrows, with some experts wanting those involved to take responsibility for their behavior.
"'I utterly condemn any fans who booed Prince William at Wembley today," Common Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said, Daily Mail reported. "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."
Tory MP and former Culture Secretary Karen Bradley also shared the same opinion. "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," Bradley said.
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, showed support to the royal family and to Prince William, assuring them that those who booed the future king did not represent them.
"We have the most wonderful Monarch and those fans who booed do not represent their clubs or our country," he said.
Meanwhile, Connor O'Neill, a football writer, confirmed that the incident was not new. According to him, Liverpool fans "are well known" for booing God Save The Queen at Wembley, and it was down to the city's antipathy towards Margaret Thatcher's Tory government in the 1980s.
"The Conservative Government's 'managed decline' of the city was then followed by the failings of the Government following the Hillsborough disaster, which further entrenched those feelings," he explained.
Regardless of the reason, former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole found booing "disgraceful and deplorable." For him, it was a "repulsive behavior." He admitted to being a football fan for 67 years, and he never heard it, so "there is no excuse for that sort of behaviour."
"We don't want sycophancy in this country, but we want respect. And respect is due to the head of state," he added.
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