Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf ‘smirked’ as fans booed ‘God Save the King’

On Tuesday, Scotland played England in a football match in Hampden Park, in Scotland. As with many national competitions, the national anthem was played before the game. The Scottish football fans in attendance booed the f–k out “God Save the King.” There were several videos going around, and here’s one:

LOL. It’s funny, right? I mean, Irish football fans were singing “Lizzy’s in a box” two seconds after QEII’s passing last year. I think a wave of boos for “God Save the King” feels much more appropriate. Well, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf was caught on camera “smirking” as the stadium erupted with boos. So now the story is about that, not the fact that Scottish people hate King Charles, nor that the new king is historically unpopular (despite the monarchy’s not-so-sly push polling).

Humza Yousaf has been accused of disrespecting the King after he was filmed smirking while Scotland football fans booed the national anthem. Onlookers said that Scotland’s First Minister appeared to be attempting to suppress a grin as God Save the King was drowned out by loud heckling at Hampden Park.

The anthem was being played ahead of Scotland’s clash with England on Tuesday, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the fixture, in a game that England won 3-1.

Mr Yousaf, who is a republican but has attempted to avoid royal controversies since succeeding Nicola Sturgeon, was in a corporate box at Scotland’s national stadium, which he shared with figures including Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

An onlooker who filmed Mr Yousaf’s reaction to the jeering told The Scottish Sun that it appeared the SNP leader was “trying to stop himself from bursting out laughing” at Scots disrespecting the national anthem.

“He appeared to be smirking throughout the entire national anthem,” the onlooker said. “It wasn’t really how you would have expected him to react to the booing. The sensible thing would have been to maintain a stony-faced demeanour throughout, in a dignified manner. But instead he came across like the cheeky boy at the back of the classroom who had just watched his mate make a face behind the teacher’s back. It looked like he was desperate to let out a big guffaw and was trying to conceal it. The noise of the booing was deafening and I suppose, in fairness, he found it very awkward. He really didn’t know how to respond and it showed.”

While Mr Yousaf has said that he would like to see an independent Scotland become a republic, he has previously attempted to be respectful to the monarchy, which remains popular with many Scots. However, Murdo Fraser, the Tory MSP, said that Mr Yousaf “fell short” of his duties by smirking during the booing.

A spokesman for Mr Yousaf said: “This is a massive over-interpretation by the Conservatives – they ought to have more important things on their mind. The First Minister was looking forward to the match, end of story.”

[From The Telegraph]

LMAO. How dare the republican, pro-Scexit Scottish First Minister SMIRK as Scottish fans booed the hell out of the national anthem?? I’m almost crying from laughter, and I bet Yousaf was as well – he wasn’t smirking, he was trying very hard not to collapse in a giggle fit. There are really national newspaper editors out there, huffing and puffing because a Scottish politician SMILED.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

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31 Responses to “Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf ‘smirked’ as fans booed ‘God Save the King’”

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  1. AnneL says:

    I’m smirking just thinking about it.

    • MoxyLady007 says:

      The Scots truly do make their feelings known so well. And the fact that so many booed the anthem says nothing about the Minister, but about Scottish sentiment towards being still under Britain after all these centuries.

      I do so hope the tide is shifting for those who wish for full independence.

      As for us in the USA, I once took a knee during the national anthem before a 6am red eye in a near empty airport and I was a bit concerned about being attacked. So it’s delightful to see people being able to express their feelings towards their government without being assaulted. If anyone booed during the national anthem at a USA baseball game- I see that going exceedingly poorly.

      Well done Scotland.

      • MoonTheLoon says:

        That’s why I laugh when a certain demographic talks about the “freedoms” here in the US. The US hasn’t been a truly free country for a very long time. Social pressure to believe a certain way can sometimes literally be deadly.

      • PixiePaperdoll says:

        They play the national anthem at the airport? Maybe I should take my headphones off more.

    • Lorelei says:

      @Annel, same 😏

  2. MaryContrary says:

    Oh f-them. And I can’t help but think there’s a smidge of racism in this too . . .

    • ML says:

      Yeah, I’m wondering if that “onlooker” is an Englishman. The irony of anonymously telling someone how to behave in their own country, someone with an immigration background and non-traditionally British name certainly sounds like they are blowing full-blast on a dog whistle.

  3. May says:

    Would have been interesting to see a video or photo of this supposed smirk. Did I miss it on this page??

  4. Becks1 says:

    Royalists are so easily triggered, my lord. he should have looked “stony-faced” because omg, how could the great and wonderful King Charles III be BOOED in his very own Tartan Disneyland?!?!?!!?

    His spokesperson’s response is perfect.

    • MSTJ says:

      👍 …. Loved the response.

      Every slight is an issue for royal sycophants … they’re accustomed to deference….it’s how they wield power and control people…no dissenting opinions or thoughts allowed.

  5. Jillian says:

    The royal family is so deeply ridiculous. They act like they’re holding nuclear codes but they’re nothing but pampered figureheads used to impress tourists. This is an elected leader they’re trying to demand respect from, a serious person with (LOL) a job. Every day, this idiot king makes the case for his own removal.

    • TheFarmer'sWife says:

      Well said/written. Almost spit my tea out at “they act like they’re holding nuclear codes” part! All I could see was Pedrew selling the codes to the first person who offered him some cash money. Lordy.

    • Lara (the other) says:

      I would say entertain tourists. They are not really impressive.
      And since they outed themselves as petty little racists, they are not even entertaining in funny way any more.

  6. Amy Bee says:

    It’s just a football match. Did the English expect the Scots to sing God Save the King?

    • Brassy Rebel says:

      Which is a ridiculous “national anthem” anyway. Why should the Scots express their patriotism by hoping that an English king is “saved”? Or for that matter, why should the English express love for their country by making it all about one individual? Charles is GB; GB is Charles seems to be the message. Free yourselves. Abolish the monarchy.

  7. Ameerah M says:

    That’s funny as hell and I would have had to smirk to keep from laughing as well. And then would have failed miserably and burst into fits of laughter. So Humza Yousef is better than me on that front.

  8. Beech says:

    In my heart of hearts I love the booing. There I said it!

  9. M says:

    Smirking? That’s the scandal? Wow. I would have been booing along with the crowd. If you’re a republican, show it!

  10. ML says:

    I spent a few weeks in England, Wales and Scotland this past summer. I just want to say that most of the royal merch being sold still heavily focuses on yhe late queen. You could be forgiven while window shopping if you were unaware that KC is actually the monarch, and this is pretty much true in all three areas that we visited. Notice no one mentioned that at all in this article.

  11. equality says:

    So instead of the story being about the hundreds actively doing something (booing) and why; it’s about one person who appears to be doing something? UK media is a joke.

  12. BeanieBean says:

    They need a new anthem, especially once the BRF destroys its house of cards. Wonder what they’ll come up with if they leave it to a vote of the people? I absolutely loved ‘Boaty McBoatface’ when they left that to the people! Maybe Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’?

    • AnneL says:

      Isn’t the unofficial anthem of Scotland “O Flower Of Scotland,” about a battle where the Scots sent the English King “Proud Edward” home to “think again?”

      I really hope they vote for independence soon. I mean I don’t live there, they should do whatever is best for the country. But with Brexit I would think Scotland would be better off as part of the EU.

  13. Bad Janet says:

    This literally made me laugh out loud.

    My ancestry is mostly English, but it’s the Scots in me that I truly identify with. 😆

    • AnneL says:

      Same here! I have a little more English than Scottish and Irish, but I don’t feel any affinity for England. And let’s be honest, my people all came here because England didn’t want them, lol. My Scottish ancestors were sent to Northern Ireland first, then left for America because the rents were raised and the Irish didn’t want them there.. The English ones were mostly religious dissidents and indentured servants.

      Even my German ancestors kind of got screwed by the English. They were from the Palatine region on the French border, and after years of war and bad weather left them destitute, Queen Anne invited them to go to the American colonies in New York and PA. But they weren’t treated well by the English there either, so they headed down to North Carolina and stayed there.

      The Scots-Irish in particular were so quick to sign on to the rebel cause during the Revolution that at the time some called it the “Scots-Irish Revolution.” They hated the English.

  14. LadyE says:

    Haha my god what a long-winded, unnecessarily detailed description of what Yousaf’s face looked like!

  15. janey says:

    Its just so unfair that as an English person my national anthem is god save the king (which I DO NOT sing nor stand for) and the other home nations get to sing lovely songs. Flower of Scotland is a glorious tune and it rung loud and clear through Hampden Park.

    I did feel a bit bad for the England players though trying to carry on through the booing.

  16. Diamond Rottweiler says:

    My son is a history major writing his senior thesis on the British Empire and their policies of genocide and eugenics up into the 20th century. So I read along with the sources he’s using sometimes. That all Chuck has to deal with is boos from the Scottish people means he should count himself extremely lucky.

  17. BQM says:

    Given how much Charles loves Scotland (unlike William), has three homes there and is only the second monarch since the Stuarts to have Scots blood (through the Queen mother) it’s pretty freaking hilarious. And you know that, unlike the late Queen would be, he’s probably so upset/pissed off about this type of thing.