[5] The band were also forbidden from playing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil by FIFA, due to strict rules on not allowing instruments into the stadiums.
[6] The band have also released The Great Escape theme tune as a single for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and a newer version for UEFA Euro 2000.
Comedian David Baddiel said, "I tire of endless Rule, Britannias and Great Escapes", and is "aware" of the band's refusal to play Three Lions.
[7] When the large contingent of Polish fans drowned out the band at Wembley during the final group qualifier for the 2014 World Cup, Guardian journalist Barney Ronay welcomed the fact: "There had been a fear before kick-off that 18,000 or so Poles would out-sing and out-atmosphere the home support, albeit anything that might drown out the England band, whose parpings and whumpings tend to produce the feeling of being very slowly lulled into semi-consciousness by a dementedly patriotic stage hypnotist, is to be welcomed.
"After the same game, England fans were quoted in The Guardian as saying that the band are like "the Go Compare advert of international football fans", that "they are right up there with the vuvuzela for wanting to stab myself in the head with a fork" and that "If 18,000 Polish supporters drown out the England band, they should be invited to every game at Wembley.