Frank Skinner has addressed concerns that his hit football anthem, Three Lions, penned with fellow comedian David Baddiel and band The Lightning Seeds, might be too "un-woke" for England bosses.
With Gareth Southgate's men through to the Euro 2024 knock-outs, Three Lions is sure to be blaring out in pubs, bars and cars across the nation on Sunday when Harry Kane leads the team out.
Such is the anthem's popularity among fans that it has topped the chart a record-breaking four times, leading to "it's coming home" being seen as a rallying cry for England fans.
But it has previously been revealed FA bosses almost banned the song over concerns about its lyrics.
In 1996, FA bureaucrats had threatened to pull-out of an agreement to endorse the track as the official song for Euro 96, having raised concerns the original lyrics could have promoted fighting.
Steve Double, former head of media relations at the FA, said he was worried a line reading "Butcher at war" - a reference to England's blood-spattered centre back Terry Butcher - would encourage hooliganism, striking it from the song.
After a fiery back-and-forth with the representatives of the band - including a grilling from The Lightning Seeds' record label - Steve says the lyrics were eventually changed to "that tackle by Moore".
Concerns were also raised in 2022, with the FA eventually confirming Three Lions would be played at England fixtures in Qatar, despite fears it would "offend other nations". Sweet Caroline was tipped to replace the anthem.
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Now, speaking on Heart Breakfast, Frank Skinner has addressed the criticism, having been asked about a possible ban of the song by host Jamie Theakston.
The comedian said: "I think there’s a worry that it might be seen as a bit, I suppose, un-woke because it doesn’t talk about the world, it talks about England as if it’s special.”
Heart FM co-host Amanda Holden added: "Well we are... we were.”
To which Frank replied: "Apparently calling England the home of football upsets the other federations.”
Jamie quipped no one would want to upset FIFA - football's governing body.
Baddiel has previously opened up about the song being seen as offensive. Speaking to The Sun, he said: "I think it's the notion — misinterpreted by many people — that football's coming home means that England owns football and we are the homeland of football. Which historically is the case. We were the first one to ratify the rules of the game.
“But somehow that's offensive to other FAs - like the Croatian FA or whatever.”
In 2022, amid reports the song would be axed, the FA said: "The FA still plays Three Lions at major Wembley matches and has never had any intention of doing otherwise.
“The song belongs to the fans and is about the hope of following the England team.
“It was requested by the FA to be played as one of our team songs at the 2018 World Cup and at the EUROs last summer, and this is our plan at tournaments going forwards.”
