Joey Barton is a man who is perfectly comfortable with upsetting people while expressing his opinion, and his twitter account is a medium for many controversial tweets as well as a few insightful ones as well, to be fair.
He regularly watches other sports and shares his views on them with his followers and during Friday night's Six Nations coverage he, like many others watching, was impressed by the Welsh national anthem being belted out in Cardiff, and of course La Marseillaise.
Barton then tweeted a criticism of 'God Save The Queen' that has upset some and rallied others he translated the words into ones he feels are more suitable:
6 nations always reminds me how poor our national anthem is. 'Mythical character look after birth lottery winner!' New anthem required.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) February 26, 2016
If he was expecting a shitstorm in his inbox, he would probably have been surpised by a more mixed reaction to his opinion.
Of course, some were upset:
@Joey7Barton Regardless of whether you like the anthem or not, that statement is insulting to people with religious beliefs and our queen.
— Martin Holland (@MartinHolland74) February 26, 2016
@Joey7Barton remember you disgracing yourself at the Etihad. On what basis would this be right.Immensely proud of our anthem.#canthideurpast
— Patrick Loftus (@pjlofty) February 26, 2016
@Joey7Barton which hole did you crawl out of Barton? Please fall back in it!
— Bantersaurus Rex (@Jakebuck1809) February 26, 2016
But many England fans agreed with him:
@Joey7Barton should of been changed to Jerusalem years ago.
— Kyle Morley (@dangahv) February 26, 2016
@Joey7Barton it's completely out of touch with what is now a country of many religions. also for atheists like myself. plus it's just shit ?
— James Beard (@slimbeardy) February 26, 2016
@KateAitken1 @Joey7Barton Land Of Hope and Glory should be our national anthem ?
— Malcolm Upton (@Alky007) February 26, 2016
@Joey7Barton You know, I kinda get the Royal fam. I like Wills Harry and Charles, Phil is good for a laugh But Nat'Anth should be Jerusalem
— Steva_paul (@PaulSte04848139) February 26, 2016
Couldn't agree more with @Joey7Barton our national anthem is shite.
— Taylor Whalley (@taylorcatrionna) February 26, 2016
Joey Barton sparking critical thinking over the anthem of the United Kingdom may not have been something we expected to come out of Friday's Six Nations coverage, but it's hard to deny that 'God Save The Queen' lacks the sort of emotion that the anthems of other countries give their players.
