Malawi vs. Ivory Coast: National Anthems

Under the regulations of the Federation Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA, flying national flags and playing national anthems of the participating nations are normal events. However, ahead of a regional qualifier for the 2010 World Cup on March 26, 2008 between South Korea and North Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea had rejected that concept and contended that a flag depicting the Korean Peninsula be hoisted and ¡°Arirang,¡± a traditional Korean folk song, be played instead.

In 2005 players and officials from Turkey and Switzerland fought after their World Cup match in Istanbul. Both teams complained to FIFA that opposing fans whistled during the other’s national anthem in the two-leg playoff. Later FIFA considered banning of the playing of national anthems before international matches to help avoid crowd trouble. Fifa chief Sepp Blatter favored scrapping national anthems:

“That was so disrespectful and a slur on a nation’s pride,” he said. “It makes me wonder if it makes any sense continuing to play national anthems.”

“As soon as you have overt nationalism mixed in with passion and emotion, it becomes an explosive situation,” he said. “That is why we are considering doing away with the anthems.”

National Anthems are still being played unto this day. Here you see teams of Egypt and Angola listening to national anthems during the quarter final match between Egypt and Angola in Kumasi on 4 February 2008 during the African Cup of Nations football championship.

Here are the National Anthems of Malawi and Ivory Coast. Malawi and Ivory Coast will meet again on October 10, 2009.

Should FIFA do away with the National Anthems and have one World Football Anthem instead? Here is your “cheat sheet”.

Should FIFA do away with the National Anthems and have one World Football Anthem instead?(poll)