NFL team reveals it will perform the CANADIAN national anthem before games leaving fans furious over 'ridiculous' decision: 'Slap in the face'

The Buffalo Bills will play both the American and Canadian national anthems before the first game at the new Highmark Stadium.

The Bills begin life in their new $2.1 billion stadium in Week 2 as they host the first Thursday Night Football game of the season against the Detroit Lions.

And the franchise announced they will be performing two anthems before the game, with Auliʻi Cravalho, the voice of Disney's Moana and a lifelong Bills fan, performing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' while Canadian rock band The Barenaked Ladies will perform 'O Canada'. 

'For the first time in Highmark Stadium history, we will celebrate the American and Canadian anthems during pregame,' the team announced. 

The move is not unusual in Buffalo. The city's hockey team, the Sabres, also owned by the Pegula Family, performs the Canadian anthem before every game.

Given its close proximity to the border, there is a substantial Canadian fanbase in Buffalo, including numerous season ticket holders.

As a result, the move was largely well-received by those in and around Buffalo.

However, that did not stop the team facing a massive backlash from elsewhere with fans slamming the move to play another national anthem aside from the American one before NFL games in the United States. 

One fan asked: 'Why a Canadian anthem? Is one of the teams from Canada?' and another questioned: 'Why? The reason they do the Canadian in hockey is half the league is Canadian. I understand Buffalo is close to Canada has Canadian fans but I don’t think it’s necessary.' 

Another wrote: 'This is America, why in the world are we playing the Canadian anthem? I wouldn't expect Canada to play the American anthem at their hockey games. So why are we playing their anthem? They don't even play football!' 

'Can't wait to root for every team playing the Buffalo Canadians this year,' another commented, as others called it 'ridiculous' and said: 'WHAT? Wow! So done with the Bills! This is the last straw for me.'

Another cited the ongoing trade war and tensions between the two countries, calling it a 'slap in the face to every American business owner who has become victim to politics'. 

A further comment added: 'This is a very bad look by the Bills organization in light of the current political landscape but thank you for at least showing your true colors for the rest of the country to see! This team deserves that trainwreck that's coming this season. 

'Did the Bills move to Canada?,' another asked. 'Come on, the Canadian Bills fans are good people but, we don’t need to hear their song. Do better Buffalo.'

The Bills also have three players on the roster who are Canadian citizens - wide receiver Josh Palmer and linebacker Michael Hoecht were born in Ontario, and tight end Dalton Kincaid has American and Canadian passports.

They start their season on the road against the Houston Texans on Sunday (1pm ET) before their first home game on a short turnaround four days later.