The Premier League has confirmed that the French National Anthem will be played at St Mary's and indeed all premier League grounds ahead of this weekend's game.

In some respects you can understand why the premier league has made this decision, after all there are 72 French players at English top flight clubs, more than any other nationality other than English itself.

However judging by reactions of Saints message boards and social media the premier League have misjudged the mood of the fans who by comments made remain against the anthem being played.

Although virtually all of the comments were in favour of some tribute being made in the form of a minutes silence, it was also virtually unanimous that the French anthem should not be played.

Now the Premier league could be left with egg on their faces should the mood in grounds not be in line with their own thinking, it is hard to imagine English football fans belting out La Marseillaise, at best it will be met with stony silence, but the worry is that there will be some who will not be pleased at this gesture, pointing out that it is unprecedented and that we have not bestowed this honour to other nations who have suffered from terrorist actions more than the French.

"Given how close we are as well as the long-standing relationship that exists between the Premier League and France, playing La Marseillaise as an act of solidarity and remembrance is the right thing to do," said Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore.

"We were all saddened and deeply shocked by the events in Paris last Friday, and the fact it was an attack on people enjoying their everyday freedoms like going to a bar, a concert or a football match resonates with football fans and the general public throughout the UK."

Scudamore is right, we are all saddened, shocked and sickened by what happened in Paris, but in England we honour the fallen not in jingoistic fashion, but by silent sombre remembrance.

The Premier League has now set a precedent, should England suffer another catastrophic terrorist attack as it did a decade ago, the Premier League will be under pressure to sanction the playing of the English National Anthem, given the delicate situation at the moment, should we be encouraging shows of nationalistic behaviour that inflames situations, or should we be looking to mourn the dead.

I am as patriotic as the next man and do not believe in backing down to terrorists, however I want to see a nation united not divided.

In any case La Marseillaise was a revolutionary song, an anthem to freedom, a patriotic call to mobilize all the citizens and an exhortation to fight against tyranny and foreign invasion, is this a fitting song to honour the dead or is it a call to arms.

Photo: Action Images

Saintpots added 17:39 - Nov 19 I don't think playing the French National anthem is jingoistic? This is about solidarity, nothing more. It could easily have happened to our people and this gesture means we stand together. It also does not matter what La Marseillaise stands for, it is the French National anthem and something we can use to demonstrate that we share the same ideals and beliefs as citizens. I don't think many will join in singing it but they don't need to.

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BoondockSaint added 18:17 - Nov 19 Agree with the posts on the previous article: silence yes, anthem no. But maybe the FA is playing it safe: There have been incidents at other sporting events of idiots shouting during the minute of silence, so playing the anthem loud will not allow this to happen and avoid embarrassment.
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saintmark1976 added 20:01 - Nov 19 Strange world in which we live at the moment. When asked our thoughts the majority of those who respond give a resounding "no" but the Premier League can ignor these views and dictate what must happen at St Mary's and other grounds. I can not help but think that they have missed the point which is that reaction to Friday's horrors show that we are against people being able to impose their views upon us. Having made that personal point I trust that fans will act responsibly over the weekend and observe the anthem with respect.

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SanMarco added 23:58 - Nov 19 A silence is a mark of respect and quiet dignity that is humanist in nature - an anthem is by definition nationalistic and also ignores those casualties who were not French. The anthem was a mark of defiance at a particular moment on the night and, as has been pointed out, it was due to be played on Tuesday anyway so no, I think and feel it is wrong for Saturday. Also saintmark1976 makes a really excellent point: the mood amongst supporters defintely seems to be silence not anthem but the Premier League imposes its views upon us anyway...

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uaesaint added 08:09 - Nov 20 Not right did we play usa athen after nine eleven no did we play at any time our own in times of the Ira no think its wrong am United in the pain but this is not the right way we did show max respect at wenbely not needed and will not sit well with spectators not through disrespect or lack of passion but after all it is another nations athen
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NewburySaint added 11:07 - Nov 20 Should not be happening-a minutes silence, yes, their national anthem, no. What will the American nation think of this?
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davepid added 18:11 - Nov 20 Not sure it's a good idea to mix football with international politics .not sure what the African players will be thinking: Kenya and Nigeria had an atrocity of about 150 deaths each this year and now today Mali. I really hope this isn't motivated in part by the commercial desire to take the Premiership into new international markets.
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legod7 added 12:19 - Nov 21 Perhaps some of the Premiership teams with French players were thinking about playing the French national anthem. So the FA decided let's have it all grounds
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