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Mayer-Vorfelder: Players that don't sing the German national anthem must be thrown out

The DFB president has called on the singing of the national anthem before international matches to become compulsory, with the punishment being exclusion from the team

By Doug Patient

20-Jul-2012 7:40:00 PM

Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder visiting a hospital in Cape Town

Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, the former president of the German Football Federation (DFB) has expressed his desire to see players who do not sing the national anthem thrown out of the team.

Germany lost 2-1 in the Euro 2012 Semi-Finals against Italy this summer, and the 79-year-old believes that the Azzurri showed more passion, showcased in their singing of the national anthem.

"The Italians sung with fervour - and they played with this same passion for their country. And us? It looked like we played almost out of shame," he told Bild.

When Mayer-Vorfelder was questioned whether you can force a player to sing the national anthem passionately, he responded by unequivocally stating that it is possible.

"Sure, you can force the player to sing, if one still stubbornly refuses, then he will no longer be invited into the squad."