Fines for booing anthems are meaningless. Players need to have a word with fans.

Plus people too merciless to Mings

I’ve covered disorder involving England fans down the decades, reported on rioting in Dublin, Rome, Marseille, Charleroi, the full Baedeker of belligerence. The behaviour of England fans has undoubtedly improved markedly in recent years, though. But the booing of opposing national anthems is disrespectful, unhelpful to the England team, and is an embarrassment that needs ending.

England and Republic of Ireland line up for anthems in Dublin.

Photo: Eddie Keogh, The FA via Getty Images

It needs emphasising that England fans are more welcome visitors now, earning praise at tournaments and in qualifiers on the road. They are seen playing fund-raising games against their counterparts on trips abroad. They are seen taking iPads and other gifts into children’s hospitals. That’s all a credit to those members of the England Supporters Travel Club, and Block 109 at Wembley, who have determined to improve the reputation of England fans. The Football Supporters’ Association fans’ embassies also help. So does CCTV.

International football comes back into focus at 2pm today with Lee Carsley’s England squad announcement at St George’s Park for the final Nations League games. England head to Athens where fans will play a goodwill game against the locals in a non-League stadium on the edge of the city. Others will be visiting a children’s hospital. I occasionally do the draw for their raffle and they raise decent sums for charities and hospitals abroad. Fair play to them.

But there are still some bores onboard. You hear it on away trips with some of the chants in bars before matches. You hear it before kick-off with occasional booing of the opposition’s national anthem, especially those who have a complex history with England.