Don't say 'it's coming home'! Whitehall tells ministers to stop uttering the song lyric that's been part of English football culture for 25 years... because it 'does not go down well overseas'

It has been integral to English football culture for 25 years and has been sung across the country in recent weeks.

But ministers have been told to stop saying 'it's coming home' because it apparently annoys other countries.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport officials said in a briefing note that the song lyric 'does not go down well overseas' and could scupper the UK and Ireland bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

It has been integral to English football culture for 25 years and has been sung across the country in recent weeks - but ministers have been told to stop saying 'it's coming home' because it apparently annoys other countries

The email reads: 'As stressed before, please do encourage your ministers not to use 'it's coming home' with the news media and social media.

'I know we're swimming against the tide, but we know this does not go down well overseas – and strategically we need to do all we can to make ourselves welcoming to the football authorities when the UK and Ireland is scoping out a bid for 2030.' 

However, the Prime Minister said only this week after England's semi-final win against Denmark on Wednesday, 'Let's bring it home'

However, the Prime Minister said only this week after England's semi-final win against Denmark on Wednesday, 'Let's bring it home.'

It's coming home are the opening words and chorus to Three Lions, written by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds for Euro '96 in England. 

Football, in its modern global form, was invented and codified in England, hence it could be seen as 'coming home'.