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Original poster

To not support England?!

640 replies

Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 10:12

Live and work in England. Not English. My team didn’t qualify for the World Cup so I’m supporting Scotland! Lobe a plucky underdog, have some Scots heritage ( and some English to be fair) plus I NEVER support English sports teams. EVER.
Football has inevitably come up in the office and several colleagues are generally pissed off that I’m not supporting England, insist I should be etc etc. Stupidly I mentioned that I never support England … did not gone down well.
If you live here then you should etc etc

YANBU - support who you like!
YABU - you ingrate, you live in the country you should support the national team.

OP posts:
GlomOfNit · 11/06/2026 19:14

LizardyGuts · 11/06/2026 10:16

Depends how long you've lived in England I suppose. Two years - it's normal that your outlook is still international. Twenty years - a bit unusual that you don't want to support the national team of the country you have made home (as well as your country of origin if applicable).

But 'unusual' is your choice, and shouldn't be viewed as some kind of personal or national insult by others.

Ah yes, the Norman Tebbitt Index of Englishness: would you support England at cricket - or the Other Chaps? Grin

Sorry, I always tend to assume anyone trotting that one out is a bit racist.

I'm British but have a father who was born elsewhere. I'm not remotely bothered about footy but on occasion I do watch an international competition and generally shout for my dad's (and my joint) country of origin. We even have a flag, somewhere ...

Original poster
Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 19:14

GlomOfNit · 11/06/2026 19:03

Why assume that an officeful of people in England are England fans, or indeed, care about football?

Edited
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True. It was mostly about the sweepstakes TBH.

OP posts:
GlomOfNit · 11/06/2026 19:03

Imanautumn · 11/06/2026 10:16

Support who you want but seems deliberately inflammatory to announce you never support England to a group of England fans.

Why assume that an officeful of people in England are England fans, or indeed, care about football?

Original poster
Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 19:02

‘they applauded their own team politely and nodded at him when England got a goal. All very civilised and sporting. He gave me a 'I told you so' look.’

I’ll take things that never happened for 500 🤣 famously fans supporting their national football team in major international finals generally politely clap their team while giving kudos to the opposition outplaying them.
AND THEN the Irish walked in… what was next? Bar fights? Did they throw chairs around? Presumably that little bit was thrown into the end of your tall tale because you’ve decided I must be Irish.
Cool story bro!

OP posts:
TheWineoftheChicken · 11/06/2026 18:36

Support whoever you want. I couldn’t care less who random colleagues support. I guess it’s the announcing that you never support England to the office that pissed them off, but I’m guessing you partly said it for a reaction so you can’t be surprised that you got one!

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 18:34

I remember booking a holiday abroad not realising there was an England game on against the country we would be in during the trip. It was the Euros I think; Ireland hadn't even qualified. DH (English) said we should go to watch it in the pub. I was slightly worried; what if he was the only English person, would the atmosphere be ok, especially as we'd have our DC with us.

He shrugged off my concerns telling me I had nothing to worry about, the local supporters would be absolutely fine. We watched it in the hotel bar and he was right; they applauded their own team politely and nodded at him when England got a goal. All very civilised and sporting. He gave me a 'I told you so' look.

Then at half time the door of the bar opened and a gang trooped in talking loudly in unmistakeable Irish accents. DH looked at me again and raised his eyebrows 'Uh-oh'.

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 18:26

Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 18:19

Honestly, it sort of is. I could get myself excommunicated…

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And that's fair enough.

gingercat02 · 11/06/2026 18:23

Me too OP. NI by birth, happily support either Irish team. Lived in England for 35 years never supported them in anything. DS English DH Scottish, don't support them either.

JustAnotherWhinger · 11/06/2026 18:22

Ablondiebutagoody · 11/06/2026 10:23

Bit weird to live in a place you dislike but that's your problem. I wouldn't care who you support.

When I have lived abroad, I have found myself supporting the local team out of affinity with my friends/colleagues, enjoying them being happy and liking the general buzz on the streets.

Not supporting the England football team doesn’t remotely mean the OP doesn’t like England to live in. Thats just ridiculous.

Original poster
Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 18:19

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 18:17

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

She was probably optimistic that it would be taken in the intended spirit.

Anyway OP, I would handle your work situation by adopting a stricken expression and whispering "It's against my religion to cheer for England"

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Honestly, it sort of is. I could get myself excommunicated…

OP posts:
Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 18:17

43andnotgettinganyyounger · 11/06/2026 18:10

I think you know exactly what you were doing when you posted …

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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

She was probably optimistic that it would be taken in the intended spirit.

Anyway OP, I would handle your work situation by adopting a stricken expression and whispering "It's against my religion to cheer for England"

43andnotgettinganyyounger · 11/06/2026 18:10

Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 16:42

Wow, this thread to an unexpected turn or two …

I think you know exactly what you were doing when you posted …

Muffsies · 11/06/2026 17:50

So do all the people in your office support the local football team, regardless of where they came from? If you came from Liverpool but you live in Oxford, would you have to support Oxford? I don't think so!

DontBuyAnotherBook · 11/06/2026 17:50

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 17:45

Omg I'm so so so slow. I was thinking washing product!!!

Yes we certainly do, the entire evening schedule was set around the soaps for many many years, decades even.

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I nearly put soap operas and then thought no one has said that in forty years.

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 17:45

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 17:43

I need to know what this is about.

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Omg I'm so so so slow. I was thinking washing product!!!

Yes we certainly do, the entire evening schedule was set around the soaps for many many years, decades even.

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 17:43

DontBuyAnotherBook · 11/06/2026 17:35

Plus you love our soaps. 😛

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I need to know what this is about.

Original poster
Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 17:39

ReignOfError · 11/06/2026 17:21

If you’re basing your support on away kits, it has to Belgium, with the Magritte inspired shirts. If indeed, that is what they are…

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Saw those but I don’t like pink so… also it’s borderline awful. BRILLIANt or awful? Tough one.
France away is gorgeous as is the Curacao but that green Mexico shirt is sublime.

OP posts:
DontBuyAnotherBook · 11/06/2026 17:35

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 17:24

Everyone feels like that about the Irish, it's our superpower.

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Plus you love our soaps. 😛

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 17:24

DontBuyAnotherBook · 11/06/2026 17:05

This is weird because I feel like I have more in common with the Irish than I do the French. We are so similar. We get the sense of humour etc.

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Everyone feels like that about the Irish, it's our superpower.

ReignOfError · 11/06/2026 17:21

Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 16:51

Also, the Scotland kit is great this tournament. Can’t beat a cool away shirt.

If you’re basing your support on away kits, it has to Belgium, with the Magritte inspired shirts. If indeed, that is what they are…

To not support England?!
IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 11/06/2026 17:20

Goditsmemargaret · 11/06/2026 16:59

Whaaaat? There's no justification whatsoever needed for supporting England's opponents. They're playing England, we will cheer for them. That's the basis of the anyone but England ethos.

Posters need to calm down, imagine being so ridiculously sensitive. It's nonsense and means nothing. It's most common in a house (like mine) or a group of friends containing an English person. Obviously we like the people!

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DH and I are from different towns, and therefore support different local teams. Even when they play each other, it's only a jokey rivalry between us.

We both like football, DH more than me, but I can't fathom turning against someone because they're supporting a team other than mine, or my country.

Original poster
Feetballislife · 11/06/2026 17:19

SardinesOnButteredToast · 11/06/2026 17:11

Ach, but that's the joy of it all Grin (Scottish)

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It’s all in good fun, right??? 😜

OP posts:
SeasideJane · 11/06/2026 17:19

Do British ex-pats support the country they live in? No! Of course not. So why should anyone else?
Especially the jingoism that accompanies British men's games. However, the joy of the women's games still transcends this and long may that last!

Modification24 · 11/06/2026 17:13

There will be millions of English people not supporting England or following the football.

SardinesOnButteredToast · 11/06/2026 17:11

Imanautumn · 11/06/2026 10:16

Support who you want but seems deliberately inflammatory to announce you never support England to a group of England fans.

Ach, but that's the joy of it all Grin (Scottish)