Angry Football Association officials could call an end to their relationship with the England band after ordering them to stop providing background music to anti-IRA chanting during the victory over Scotland.
The England supporters band played along to chants of ‘---- the IRA’ from the travelling fans inside Celtic Park during the first half of what was meant to be an international friendly.
FA chiefs made contact with the band at half-time to ask them to stop playing music to the abusive chanting and the request appeared to be adhered to.
The FA will now talk with the band again and could break off what has been a good relationship with them if there is no agreement over how they act in future.
On the IRA chanting, England manager Roy Hodgson said: “I don't condone any offensive chanting, I've got to say. My concentration was on the football match. I was aware the crowd were tremendously supportive. I didn't have a clue what they were chanting, I heard a few about Gordon Strachan.
“But, unfortunately, chanting and people singing songs which nobody in football condones goes on. I don't condone it. If anyone was offended, I'm sure the FA would apologise to them. All we can do is play our football and hope our fans behave themselves and enjoy our football.”
Apart from the IRA chants, England enjoyed a comfortable evening against Scotland and Hodgson claimed his boys proved they have grown into men by winning in such a hostile atmosphere.
Captain Wayne Rooney cartwheeled in celebration after taking his international tally to 46 goals with a brace in the 3-1 victory over Scotland, which was England’s sixth successive win.
Jack Wilshere, Nathaniel Clyne, Luke Shaw and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who opened the scoring, all produced assured performances for Hodgson’s team.
Asked if his boys had shown they are now men, Hodgson said: “Yes, I'd agree with that. I'm not sure they needed to prove they were real men. I knew that. But it was a real goldfish bowl under the magnifying glass tonight, and it was good they stood up to it.
“There were some good individual performances as well. To add a sixth victory is good way to finish the year.”
Rooney is just three goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time record of 49 and two behind Gary Lineker, who posted a message on Twitter that read: “Feel Rooney’s breath on the back of my neck.”
On his captain, Hodgson said: “I can't speak for him, but if you ask me milestones should be very important. Records and milestones are important. It must be nice for him to think he'll see his name at the top of the list and a record number of caps in his sight too. He must keep his fitness, but he won't be the first one to retire from football.
“It’s good for him. It's been a nice three or four days for him. We had the six-day build-up to Slovenia, his 100th cap, and that was a good occasion and victory. We added to that with this victory in Scotland, a hard place to come and win. I'm sure Wayne is delighted.
“His game is improving all the time. His responsibility, there was more to his play today than the two goals. There were many positive points to his game. He did terrifically well tonight, but many players took responsibility out there.”
Rooney added: “I'm enjoying my football. I've always loved playing for England, I'm on a good run of goals and I hope that continues. If that means I break the record, then I'll be delighted.
“It was very special for me, to score two goals for England in Scotland at Celtic Park. It's a great victory for us tonight. We spoke about the atmosphere before the game and it was terrific. We had to show our character tonight.”
Andrew Robertson scored Scotland’s consolation goal and manager Gordon Strachan admitted his side had been “spooked” by England’s fast start to the game.
“The intensity, pace England played it, without the ball in particular, was fantastic and spooked our players a bit,” said Strachan. “I think my players were expecting England to sit back and wait, but they didn't.
“They're a team full of Champions League players and they showed that. Maybe we were mentally fatigued from Friday, too, which we need to look at.
“Our priority was the win against the Republic. I'll try and keep that fresh in my memory. But I'll have to deal with this game for now and the players have to as well. We let ourselves down, to be honest. But we haven't over the 10 days. Just in this game.
“When we met 10 days ago, the point of the exercise was to get three points against the Republic, which we did. I'm proud of the way we went about it.”
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