AIBU to say men who believe this are sexist pricks

The thing is @Oddsocksanduglyshoes you have phrased your question in a very specific way so YANBU.
But I know as many women as men that say what you have put in your OP, does that make them sexist pricks as well?
Do their DDs deserve better?
Most of the men and women that I know who don't watch it, don't watch it because its not fast enough and claim that it is not as skillful.

As for those saying that it is being pushed/forced on us, wait another month and I am in no doubt that you will be saying the same about the rugby world cup.

Oh, without a doubt. I'm not a football fan in the slightest. I'll watch bits of the World Cup, the Euros, and that's it. The majority of football bores me to tears. I've tried watching the womens game, and it bores me in the same way watching a lower league game does.

Same with Tennis, mens game bores me, womens doesn't, so I watch the womens.

Rugby is a different matter, I'll enjoy watching a game of rugby no matter the quality of the teams playing. I enjoy watching my local womens team just as much as I did watching the Lions on Saturday.

Definitely. Some men (and women, weirdly) just can’t help themselves.

I’ll shout you mid season to compare notes.

Yes @Onleemoi, Wolves is my team. Favourites for relegation apparently. I just can’t believe we are up there, holding on for so many seasons. I can’t smile wide enough personally. Glad to hear we haven’t got to fall out. Though I’m ashamed to say all the wolves groups on Facebook have got their fair share of these sexist arseholes - I suspect they all have.

I support a League 2 mens team, they were in the national league for several seasons. I can't imagine just stopping supporting them because Liverpool or Arsenal are better.

And as stated before, people watch lightweight mens boxing, they don't just dismiss the lightweights because they'd get beaten by the heavyweights if they were put in the same ring together. How is that any different to womens football being fantastic in it's own right?

No, all good, we’re London based. I live in the midlands now though! Best of luck too! Wolves?

I bet men feel relieved and comfortable that every social media post about the Lionesses descends into talking about the men's game. Can't have the women centred for even one day.

@Onleemoi my team has spent faaaaaaaar more time out of the premier league than in it. I’ve watched my team in the old fourth division, supported them through two consecutive relegations, the lot. Love the club.

I expect our two teams have met many times. I love the championship. So much more competitive than the prem, so predictable with the same old teams at the top every year.

Cant wait for the new season to start! Hope you have a good campaign (unless you’re West Brom 😉)

Same! Except my team is a championship side. I’ve had a season ticket forever. 47 years. Love the game and appreciate all the differences.

Im a massive football fan. I follow a PL team and have done for 45 years.

But the difference between you and me Is that I just love football. I’d watch any football match because I love the game. For instance, I’m going to watch a PL U21 team play my local non-league team on Saturday. It undoubtedly won’t be up to the standard of my beloved PL club, but will I enjoy it? Hell yes. Did I enjoy the game yesterday. Yes I did. I try and watch Every game in the men’s international competitions too (not just England games, every game). Because I love football.

These men who say they won’t watch women’s football because it’s not as good, are not football fans. They are fans of a particular club, not football. I’m sure most of them wouldn’t want to hear that - especially from a woman. And if they deny it and say they love football in general, then the only reason they have for dismissing the women’s game is that they are, as the op identified, sexist pricks.

I’ll start taking men’s opinions on football seriously when the England men’s team actually win something. Until then they shouldn’t be worrying their pretty little heads about the women’s game…

This is so important to remember!

It’s become a handy litmus test for me OP - the kind of men who are all ‘ I’d NEVER watch a women’s game because… blah blah blah’ are generally the kind of pricks I’d give a wide berth to for many reasons.

Women were banned from playing football between 1921 - 1971 because “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.” Baffled there are women who aren’t proud of what these women are achieving.

The comments about the quality of the team are because people create a debate about the quality against men’s football. They’re light years apart. In terms of quality in the women’s game the tyre clearly very good given they won the Euros.

I can’t believe some of the comments on here regarding the quality of the women’s team, I thought they played brilliantly and winning the Euros twice proves it

Yeah, I saw that. It will change and improve though, it has already improved hugely in the last 5 years. They dont have to be the same standard anyway - its more relatable being a bit shit!

I'm pretty sure an under 15 boys team would not beat the Lionesses or the Spanish women today. Maybe 10 years ago.

I’m a big football fan and I don’t really have much of an interest in it. I have no connection to it really beyond the fact that it’s England. For the record I feel the same about the men’s England team. I watched the second half of extra time and the penalties and was pleased they won but it’s eye opening seeing the differences between what I’m used to watching and last night.

They are, but there’s also nothing wrong with that. It’s essentially an entirely different sport with its own merits, which is also fine. The Swiss team lost 7-1 to an under 15 boys team.

I really think it comes down to what you value more as a spectator - technique or emotion. The mens game is undoubtedly more powerful and they have a much more refined technique. But the women's game seems so full of emotion and humanity to me, I find the mens game sterile. It doesn't help that they get paid obscene amounts.

Also one of my dds played to a high level pre injury so I'm invested in it more. They played boys teams and beat them regularly pre the age of 14. Some of the dads and boys in the team were absolutely unable to cope with being beaten by girls, it was eye opening. A few of the boys were really mature about it, shaking hands and congratulating them, but there was a high proportion of tears and storming off - from players and dads.

I watch a PL team and have a season ticket for my local tier 7 team. So yes a difference in quality between those 2 but the tier 7 team is still worlds ahead of the women’s national team in terms of quality.

I wouldn’t watch a mens team playing at the same quality level as the women's. I watch football for enjoyment, relaxation. Not to demonstrate any feminist credentials.

I’m absolutely delighted for the Lionesses.

Speaking of which the most enjoyable tennis if recent years is being played by Ons Jabeur , a Tunisian woman. Wonderful reflexes, touch , spin, drop shots and lobs. Reminds me of Ken Rosewall. Like Ons , Ken was not very tall or muscular and had to make up for it with actual skill at tennis.

It was fabulous. I much prefer it to watching the men’s. Whenever I catch that they seem to just be hoofing it down the pitch at each other. If I wanted to watch tennis I will.

Imagine not allowing yourself to enjoy that.