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Why football will ditch the Champions League anthem at games in the UK this week: UEFA's composer admitted he 'pinched' notes from Handel's Zadok the Priest - traditionally performed at the coronation of British monarchs

The Champions League anthem will not be played in England or Scotland this week as a mark of respect for the Queen.

The well-known tune, which is simply titled 'Champions League' and was written by the English composer Tony Britten in 1992, is closely based on George Frideric Handel's composition Zadok the Priest.

Ironically, Zadok the Priest is traditionally performed at the coronation of British monarchs but won't be heard ahead of the Champions League matches on British soil this week.

Britten said in a 2013 newspaper interview: 'There's a rising string phase which I pinched from Handel and then I wrote my own tune.