Rangers to defy UEFA by playing national anthem before Napoli game

UEFA have reportedly rejected requests from British clubs to play the anthem.

Rangers intend to play the national anthem prior to their Champions League game with Napoli on Wednesday as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II. According to The Daily Mail, The Scottish Premiership side, along with Manchester City and Chelsea, had requests to play the anthem rejected by UEFA, with European football's governing body preferring to maintain a subdued atmosphere ahead of kick-off. Despite this, The Daily Record reports that Rangers will allow the Ibrox crowd to sing the anthem as a mark of respect to the Queen and her son, King Charles III. The game with Napoli was scheduled to take place on Tuesday but has since been pushed back 24 hours after Police Scotland redeployed officers and resources to Edinburgh, where the Queen's coffin departed from for London on Tuesday. There will also be no Napoli supporters inside Ibrox for the game - a decision taken to minimise police officers required for the game. UEFA have also confirmed that there will be no Champions League anthems played before games played on British soil this week, as was the case prior to Liverpool's game with Ajax on Tuesday. Related links.

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