Topics: Liverpool, UFC, FA Cup, Paddy Pimblett
UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett has defended Liverpool fans for booing the national anthem ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley.
Liverpool kept alive their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple with a penalty shootout victory over Chelsea after the final had ended goalless.
Kostas Tsimikas scored the decisive spot-kick as Liverpool won 6-5 on penalties to add the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup they won earlier this season.
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Ahead of the match, Liverpool fans loudly booed the national anthem, which has been part of the build-up to the showpiece event since 1927.
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William - who is president of the Football Association – was also jeered by Liverpool supporters while meeting with players on the pitch ahead of the match.
Former Sheffield United and Birmingham midfielder Curtis Woodhouse took to Twitter to criticise the Liverpool supporters.
"Why do Liverpool fans boo the National anthem? Embarrassing," posted Woodhouse.
UFC rising star Pimblett, who is from Liverpool and a fan of the Reds, fired back at Woodhouse: "The embarrassing thing is you know exactly why it gets done you are just coming on here to tweet about it for a reaction like a six year old kid, badly need to grow up you, you know fella."
Pimblett later added: "Why are you even questioning why we boo it then? If you understood you wouldn't even be asking that question."
Liverpool fans are known for booing 'God Save The Queen' when their team plays at Wembley.
The origins of why Liverpool boo the anthem can be traced back to the 1980s and the Conservative government's 'managed decline' of the city.
The failings of the government following the Hillsborough disaster which resulted in the deaths of 97 Liverpool supporters further strengthened those feelings.
To this day, there are a large number of Liverpool fans who do not support England at major tournaments, with the phrase 'Scouse not English' well known in the city.
Liverpool fans have faced criticism from senior politicians over their decision to boo the anthem and Prince William on Saturday.
Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle wrote: "I utterly condemn any fans who booed Prince William at Wembley today.
"The FA Cup final should be an occasion when we come together as a country. It should not be ruined by a minority of fans' totally shameful behaviour.
"In this year of all years – the Queen's Platinum Jubilee – this is dreadful."
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, added: "We have the most wonderful monarch and those fans who booed do not represent their clubs or our country."
