Why is it not played before any sporting event on the island - EPL, championship, etc...? Why also when it is played do people boo it?

I guess it is "god save the king". It is played during internationals but that is a requirement.

I have not taken any notice but is the Spanish national anthem played before matches?

I suppose football authorities in UK decide when the national anthem should be played, such as around an event of national importance, and of course internationals.
As for Spain, no Marcha Real except before internationals. Was played before Copa del Rey final in Seville on Saturday, probably in honour of the King, who was present with younger daughter. Must have got back quickly from coronation!

With football, most teams have their own team songs which are sung before events.
The National Anthem has been played over the last couple of days because of the Coronation, and most fans have not been booing it.

I think if they played the anthem at the Nou Camp there would be a riot!

‘God Save the King’ is played before international matches in commonality with most other sporting nations and it is not generally booed.

Because those games are neither national nor international events.
It is however played at national events such as cup final games, although, over the years I have been to a few of these I have never heard the anthem sung, it has always been "God save our team" instead.

I thought it was, and I still do, that it is a peculiarly American thing to play the national anthem before a sporting event that is neither international nor of national significance (final game of a competition).

You must not be a sport person as every game is important...

I was based on a USAF base in the UK for 2 1/2 years. Every day they played the full USA and UK anthem. If in earshot one was expected to stop, stand to attention and salute. On RAF camps when they raise and lower the station commanders ensign they blow a whistle while raising or lowering it and if in earshot one is expected to turn and face the ensign and stand to attention. When the ensign is up or down there are two whistle blasts and you carry on as normal. The standard raf system lasts about a minutes the USAF system seems to last forever. One has to wonder how they go on at a tri service base etc. Also the USAF personal were aghast that Brits sometimes wear union jack flag shorts as they though it offensive to have the nation's flag on ones backside. I will add that this was over 35 years ago so values and procedures may have changed. As for booing a National Anthem personally if you don't believe in what it stands for fine don't stand, sing or acknowledge it. I wonder if the booing is more to try and get a reaction from those that believe in what the anthem stands for? Not just UK I would add.

They did not want to play the national anthem at the soccer match at Anfield over the weekend and when they finally relented and did - it got booed..

Any reason why?
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/06/f...ntl/index.html

Exactly my thoughts.

Even college games will have the anthem played beforehand, and I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing was going on before high school games. I all boils down to two different mindsets: "play it at every possible occasion" vs "save it for special occasions."

Good point, you can also add towels to the list of dubious products to adorn with one's flag. I think it comes down to a more casual cultural attitude towards portraying the Union Jack on virtually everything possible, to the point where it's tacky but at the same time commonly accepted without any negativity.

True. Different mindset.
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I think this is one area where Spain and England (not the UK in general) have a specific problem with their national symbols in that the extreme right have used them extensively as part of their campaigns. Even somewhere like Cantabria, which is hardly a hotbed of extreme anything, you will rarely find people using the national flag as it symbolises being associated with Franco/VOX etc. In conversation, the opinion is often expressed "you'd get a brick through the window". Both countries have a lot to be proud of, but those small minorities nowadays can make life very difficult and most folks don't think it is worth the confrontation.

Yes …it’s because they are scoucers say no more lol.

They boo the anthem because people named brits1 and similar names, says things like in the quote.