Roy Keane Defends Football’s Guard of Honour After Chelsea’s Booed Tribute to Liverpool
The Guard of Honour Debate Heats Up
What’s supposed to be a classic gesture of sportsmanship—football’s 'guard of honour'—is suddenly under the microscope. After Chelsea lined up at Stamford Bridge to clap in Liverpool, the newly crowned Premier League champions, many fans voiced their disapproval with loud boos. Instead of a simple ritual, the scene turned into a flashpoint about whether tradition still matters or just feels out of touch.
That moment got even more attention when pundits couldn’t agree. Roy Keane wasn’t shy about defending the guard of honour, brushing off the awkwardness. His point was simple: respect goes both ways. “To get respect, you have to show respect,” he urged during live TV coverage. For him, no matter what, some customs are worth holding onto.
But not everyone watching felt that way. Rio Ferdinand, who’s spent years in the spotlight as both player and commentator, went the other way—calling the tradition “embarrassing” and better left in the past. It wasn’t just him. Peter Crouch jumped in too, saying the practice is uncomfortable for everyone involved, especially in front of a crowd that doesn’t want to see their team cheer for rivals. It’s clear the panel was split—not just in opinion, but in visions for what football should feel like in 2025.
Football’s Tug-of-War Between Tradition and Modern Tastes
This isn’t the first time players and pundits have wrestled over the meaning of a guard of honour. Back in the 2014/15 season, when Liverpool formed a guard for Chelsea’s title win, it stirred up similar arguments. Supporters of the ritual point out it's rooted in showing respect for excellence—one of the oldest football values. Critics say that in today’s high-stakes, big-money game, it feels more like an empty gesture.
The tension flared again as Liverpool got set to receive another guard of honour, this time from Arsenal before their upcoming home match. The tradition clearly isn’t dead—teams keep lining up, cameras keep rolling, and the debate keeps going. Clubs sometimes even receive angry messages from supporters if they participate, especially if there’s a heated rivalry in play.
But here’s the thing—there’s no official rule forcing teams to do it. Clubs decide based on custom, pressure from the league, or just to avoid making headlines for refusing. So each time a club forms that line, they’re stepping into the same argument: keep the old ways, or let them fade out?
If you talk to older players, many say they remember the first guard of honour they ever received as a pinch-me moment. Meanwhile, younger fans and stars coming up today often see it differently. Some say football should move forward, clear out awkward relics and focus on the actual game instead of set-piece ceremonies. But in a sport where traditions and rivalries run deep, the answer isn’t clear-cut—and with leaders like Keane doubling down, it isn’t going away anytime soon.