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AIBU?

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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:
Grghf · 23/06/2026 12:31

Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 10:08

Anyways, our new boss has taken the heat off me by saying the same! Despite looking/ sounding English, living in England, having children born in England… he’s Anyone But England because he’s Welsh.
Which seems to be more of an affront than someone of my nationality not supporting England 🤣

How do you look English as opposed to looking Welsh :-S

Original poster
Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 12:30

Did you miss the bit where I said I’m not supporting England???

OP posts:
Original poster
Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 12:15

For what it’s worth, I think English people
need to claim back their flag. You’ve given it over to racists and bigots using it to divide and separate.
Day of for St George’s Day would be a good start… make that a holiday for everyone.

OP posts:
DontBuyAnotherBook · 23/06/2026 10:32

Interesting you didn't pop on here for the Croatia win to say how well England played...

Original poster
Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 10:08

Anyways, our new boss has taken the heat off me by saying the same! Despite looking/ sounding English, living in England, having children born in England… he’s Anyone But England because he’s Welsh.
Which seems to be more of an affront than someone of my nationality not supporting England 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 10:04

5MinuteArgument · 23/06/2026 09:10

It would be like moving to Spain or France and then telling your colleagues 'I support any team except Spain / France' and expecting that to go down well. It wouldn't go down well.

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Perhaps that was a poor comparison, it’s more like France/Algeria, India/Pakistan, Russia/Ukraine… Scotland/England…

OP posts:
Original poster
Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 10:00

I had no idea the English Middle Classes despise national pride. Thanks for clearing that up!

OP posts:
5MinuteArgument · 23/06/2026 09:21

You said in your OP that you NEVER support English teams, EVER. You told your colleagues that. It's inevitable that some of them would take a dim view.

You did admit that it wasnt wise to say that, but maybe you socialise in a middle class bubble where people despise and laugh at things like national pride. However, most ordinary people don't despise their country. Lesson learned.

5MinuteArgument · 23/06/2026 09:10

Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 09:02

So if you moved to Spain or France ( and lived and worked there and paid tax there etc) you’d support their teams over England, or whatever your team is?
That’s nonsense. It’s like saying you’re from Newcastle and support them but you’ve moved to Liverpool so now should switch teams to L’Pool or Everton.

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It would be like moving to Spain or France and then telling your colleagues 'I support any team except Spain / France' and expecting that to go down well. It wouldn't go down well.

Original poster
Feetballislife · 23/06/2026 09:02

wellington77 · 22/06/2026 21:22

So you live and work here but won’t support the country which gives you all this and protects you with defence?? If we are that bad , why do you live here? I would be upset too, the lack of support seems to be based on prejudice/xenophobia for want of a better explanation

So if you moved to Spain or France ( and lived and worked there and paid tax there etc) you’d support their teams over England, or whatever your team is?
That’s nonsense. It’s like saying you’re from Newcastle and support them but you’ve moved to Liverpool so now should switch teams to L’Pool or Everton.

OP posts:
BMW58 · 23/06/2026 08:57

Feetballislife · 22/06/2026 20:42

1966, so long ago it may as well be 1066…

I was 8 in 1966.

1066 is knocking on for a thousand years ago.

Rather a significant difference 🙄

wellington77 · 22/06/2026 21:29

We haven’t made you feel a certain way, that’s your own perception when comparing. We get rattled as the “ anyone but England “ trope is very over done by everyone and based on predjudice

wellington77 · 22/06/2026 21:22

So you live and work here but won’t support the country which gives you all this and protects you with defence?? If we are that bad , why do you live here? I would be upset too, the lack of support seems to be based on prejudice/xenophobia for want of a better explanation

Original poster
Feetballislife · 22/06/2026 20:42

1966, so long ago it may as well be 1066…

OP posts:
Arcticienne · 18/06/2026 11:48

tbh you come across as a bit of a tw*t. Your use of CAPITAL LETTERS is an indicator. And in the interest of clarity, I have a UK passport, but I’m certainly not English. The old adage springs to mind, - if you can’t say something nice when in company, don’t say anything - and in your case - don’t say anything stupid. Best wishes to all you Ingerland supporters … but for Gawdsakes …please … no more about 1966 …. please …

Goditsmemargaret · 18/06/2026 11:28

JudgeJ · 18/06/2026 11:11

I’ll always support both Scotland and England, but the level of national pride Scotland carries is something England simply doesn’t share in the same way.

Maybe it isn't as simple as national pride for the Scottish fans, more likely amazement that they actually made the WC after a lifetime!

This is a big part of it in Ireland for sure.

Goditsmemargaret · 18/06/2026 11:27

JudgeJ · 18/06/2026 11:18

One of two incidents about which the adult me feels a bit of shame happened in the 1950s, our team had won the quarter final of the FA cup and Wolves, the opponants, were in their coach after the match. Their captain was in tears and we were dancing around laughing at him. Sorry Billy Wright but in my defence I had just turned 8!
OH was hitch-hiking through Germany in July 1966, they didn't get many lifts on WC Final day!

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Yeah it can definitely be misplaced. Some ribbing before a game is fine - i shared an AI photo of myself in a Croatia top into a few WhatsApp groups with English friends AS A JOKE before the match when spirits were high. I inevitably got dogs abuse afterwards.

I have lots of business associates that are English and some Scots too. I am Irish. The Euros were on, I'd paid FA attention as we weren't there and I'm not bothered about football especially anyway. But my DH is English so I was vaguely aware of England being knocked out the day before. Then we were on a Zoom call together.

The English people on the call are big footie fans, always squabbling about their premiership teams etc but obviously united in supporting England for the euros. They looked gutted. A Scottish guy came onto the call lording it over then that they had been booted out saying stupid stuff like everyone hates England and the rest of Europe was cheering.

It was absolutely bizarre and I was very embarrassed for him.

JudgeJ · 18/06/2026 11:18

PomplaMouse · 17/06/2026 15:39

Half the fun of sports is lording your team's successes over rival fans. The "let's all hold hands and support each other" stuff is a bunch of shite.

One of two incidents about which the adult me feels a bit of shame happened in the 1950s, our team had won the quarter final of the FA cup and Wolves, the opponants, were in their coach after the match. Their captain was in tears and we were dancing around laughing at him. Sorry Billy Wright but in my defence I had just turned 8!
OH was hitch-hiking through Germany in July 1966, they didn't get many lifts on WC Final day!

JudgeJ · 18/06/2026 11:11

I’ll always support both Scotland and England, but the level of national pride Scotland carries is something England simply doesn’t share in the same way.

Maybe it isn't as simple as national pride for the Scottish fans, more likely amazement that they actually made the WC after a lifetime!

Differentforgirls · 17/06/2026 17:40

To the England supporters, what are your songs?

A favourite English league one of mine is “his name is Rio and he watches from the stand” 🤣

What are your national ones?

Differentforgirls · 17/06/2026 17:14

JudgeJ · 17/06/2026 14:55

Make sure you read up on Derek Hatton as well, might add to your knowledge of Liverpool.

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Thanke for the reminder. He's like the English version of Tommy Sheridan!

Differentforgirls · 17/06/2026 17:11

Grghf · 16/06/2026 20:53

The Scots were some of the most vicious slavers and colonialists

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Oh dear, your posts on this thread!

aaron sanchez win GIF by Masterchef
Differentforgirls · 17/06/2026 16:46

Flamingcoming · 17/06/2026 12:15

I am not interested in football, but I do wish our national team the best. I think your attitude is churlish, OP. You live and work in England. You can support whatever country you come from, of course, but it’s a bit mean spirited not to also support the place where you live as well. You can support both. To hope Scotland do well - that is fine, but to say you support Scotland and not England, well, like I say, churlish, silly and creating an atmosphere in the office just for the sake of being contrary. An irritating personality trait.

So can you only live and work in England if you support the football team?

Goditsmemargaret · 17/06/2026 16:30

PomplaMouse · 17/06/2026 15:39

Half the fun of sports is lording your team's successes over rival fans. The "let's all hold hands and support each other" stuff is a bunch of shite.

Exactly!

PomplaMouse · 17/06/2026 15:39

Half the fun of sports is lording your team's successes over rival fans. The "let's all hold hands and support each other" stuff is a bunch of shite.