UEFA stop Frank Skinner and David Baddiel from singing Three Lions at Wembley ahead of Euro 2020 final as it’s ‘too partisan’ and ‘unfair on the Italians’… despite allowing Andrea Bocelli to sing Nessun Dormua at the opening ceremony
- England and Italy will go head-to-head in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday night
- UEFA will stop Frank Skinner and David Baddiel singing Three Lions at Wembley
- The duo had been asked to perform their hit song ahead of kick-off on Sunday
- However, UEFA insisted it would be ‘too partisan’ and ‘unfair on the Italians’
- They did allow Andrea Bocelli to sing Nessun Dormua at the opening ceremony
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here
UEFA have reportedly stopped Frank Skinner and David Baddiel from singing Three Lions before the Euro 2020 final as it is too ‘partisan’ and ‘unfair’ on the Italians.
The comedians were the masterminds behind the Three Lions football anthem – which was penned 25 years ago and has been chanted throughout the tournament.
The duo had been asked to perform their hit song ahead of kick-off on Sunday but UEFA have since insisted it would be ‘unfair’ on England’s opponents Italy.
UEFA stopped Frank Skinner and David Baddiel singing Three Lions at Wembley on Sunday
While appearing on the TV show The Last Leg, Skinner shared his frustrations with UEFA’s decision.
He even reminded viewers that Andrea Bocelli sang Nessun Dormua at the opening ceremony – which saw Italy kick-off the tournament against Turkey.
Nevertheless, Skinner and Baddiel were seen singing their hit song from the stands at Wembley as they cheered on England during their semi-final clash with Denmark.
The pair were sat in the stands with their sons, Buzz, nine, and Ezra, 17. Skinner was seen wearing a blue rain coat that he paired with a matching baseball cap, while Baddiel wore a black hoodie and a white hat.
England are set to face Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley on Sunday evening
UEFA said the Three Lions football anthem would be ‘too partisan’ and ‘unfair on the Italians’
Three Lions was originally written as the England’s anthem for UEFA Euro 1996, and Skinner and Baddiel co-wrote and performed the song alongside The Lightning Seeds.
The comedy duo then went on to re-record the track with new lyrics for the 1998 World Cup.
Skinner and Baddiel’s song enjoyed a roaring comeback during the 2018 World Cup, in which England got to the semi-finals.
During tournament, it became the first song in UK history to have four spells at No 1.
The song remains a key part of fan celebrations as they often chant the lyrics ‘it’s coming home’ on repeat.
Baddiel recently told Sportsmail about the track: ‘The lyrics say: we almost never win. Generally we disappoint and yet we somehow think, against all experience, that we might do something.
The comedians were the masterminds behind the Three Lions football anthem – which was penned 25 years ago and has been chanted throughout the tournament
Skinner and Baddiel were seen singing their song from the stands as they cheered on England as they faced Denmark to fight for a place in the Euro 2020 final
‘Little moments — like David Platt scoring in extra time against Belgium in Italia 90 — can break through that despair, and lead you to hope. The song takes you on that journey which is a real one for England fans.’
He went on to say: ‘I think the song is the opposite of arrogant. It’s a vulnerable song about magical thinking.
‘What does happen is that when England are doing well, Football’s Coming Home itself becomes a kind of mantra pushing us towards victory.
‘The most intense I ever heard it chanted was when Shearer scored early on against Germany in the semi-final. The crowd were saying it like a magic spell, like if we sing it fast enough and powerfully enough it will happen.
‘It’s never meant to mean “we own football”. It means coming home in the sense of something you hope will finally happen after a long journey.’