To think this is a step too far from the SNP?

Exactly. Banter amd rivalry is fine, but some scots and other devolved nations take it another level.

I can honestly say if Scotland had got this far I'd be supporting them not buying argie shirts and spitting bile about the team.

I mean look at them all Saka, Bellingham, that big Dan bloke, Kane. They all just seem such nice boys. I must admit in the old days of Rooney, Gerrard and Terry etc I wasn't a fan now they were such arrogant arseholes but this lot, what's not to like!

ABE is generally said with wry good humour

Yes, football banter which is reflective of the sardonic nature of Scottish humour, and yet it's frequently met with ethno-nationalism and slurs in kind.

The umpteen threads about ABE on Mumsnet perfectly encapsulate what ABE is about. It's a tool for showing up humourless idiots who see everything through the prism of identity, and immediately respond to anything they perceive to be mocking theirs, even football-related banter, with typical flag-shagging nationalism.

It attracts morons like flies to shite.

You may think that but it’s not how many see it. My English colleague is hurt and offended. She feels ‘othered’ and unwelcome here which is shameful don’t you think? and is EXACTLY what the SNP meant by it! But yeh, civil and joyous. ‘Banter’.

I always find Mumsnet really interesting on this topic.

Some MNers seem to take ABE attitudes deadly seriously and very personally. While of course not all Scots think the same way on this topic it’s not really as “bitter” or agressive as many posters seem to assume.

Scotland has its own distinct cultural identity, we arent just North British. Quite a lot of ABE is just asserting that cultural identity.

Part of it is rivalry based, if you have a local rivalry between two sporting teams you naturally cheer for whoever their opponents are, ABE is just that on a bigger stage.

Remember too that the relationship between England and Scotland is asymmetric.

Saying “but I supported Scotland” isn’t in any way the same,

Scotland doesn't have a centuries long history of political and military oppression against England. (And if the Falkland’s War upsets you think about how you’d feel if Argentina had four hundred years worth of aggression towards England and was still running roughshod over your political decisions)

In my experience very, very few people are actively anti English. Most people have English family members, friends, neighbours, colleagues etc etc

Saying ABE is not saying “we hate the English” it’s about asserting our identity as separate to a larger, stronger, frequently thoughtless and not always very kind next door neighbour.

ABE is generally said with wry good humour. I get that Scottish sense of humour is different to English.

Think of it this way, if a little kid has been bullied for years by a bigger kid, it’s fair enough to have a bit of a giggle if the big kid drops his ice cream. It not really much deeper than that.

It is.

But I think it's poor or a political party, and the ruling one at that to be making statements like that.

The SNP is a bunch of members, not a bunch of MSPs. I imagine they didn't canvass the members opinions and they have no right to speak for them.

Personally I think they're an incompetent bunch of snivelling fools who would do anything to distract from their awful record on health, drugs, education, and women's safety... but I'd never put out a press release saying so.

No surprises from the utterly repugnant SNP.

Hopefully with the way things are going, they will be bankrupt soon and consigned to history. Sturgeon needs to be in the dock. And I say this as someone who supports Scottish independence.

Wow what jealous little sad acts the SNP really are. Scotland has so much to boast about, and yet they demean the country that they profess to love with such childness.

Do better, SNP.

You see banter - but others see it differently. Maybe the SNP PR team needs to do better. Perhaps they could follow the lead of the Ryanair PR team on X who do great put downs and humour.

Which country/city.

Oh I do think it’s banter, isn’t that what sport is about - half my team meetings are taken up with people bad mouthing whoever side they don’t support if they’re doing badly - it’s a shame the Scottish football team didn’t play like they played to qualify but it is a hugely different environment.

I’ve been ABE for ages but hoping England can pull it out the bag tonight just because it’s been a long time for them, they’re the underdog here.

Which knuckle-dragging rancid arsehole of bitterness is this?

I do hope you are not suggesting I am lying ?
It’s on their FB page and the staff are all wearing Argentina tops .

For a political party it’s a bit pathetic.

I loved seeing the friendly rivalry between Norway and England. Norweigan Airways changed their logo to the British Airways logo after they lost the game. It was all very positive and friendly.
The SNP don't seem to have any of this good natured humour. They just look spiteful, bitter and ever resentful. I think they could play a blinder with some good natured humour - but they are incapable. Shame, it could give them some much needed good publicity.

The SNP are just childish pathetic trashy scum. Everyone here in Scotland with half a brain can see that. They and their supporters are complete morons.

And on Germans, Germans are embarrassed and ashamed of their past actions. The Argentines are actively trying to stir up the nation for another go in the Falklands.

Thanks to the jovial Scots on Mumsnet, not the miseries. .I always cheer on Scotland. Love your national anthem and put it on a par with that of France. The tartan army are a blast as well. Such a shame that adult toddlers can't drop their bitterness.im proud of our boys to get this far 🇬🇬

For me the most ridiculous thing on both sides is that it wasn't Argentina and England fighting a war.

That and there's never this ridiculous fuss over rugby matches.

I am talking about bias going back many years, maybe they’ve toned it down a bit! Not just football either.

For many years any Scot winning medals for sport was British while English medal winners were always English. Olympics etc. Same with Welsh or NI winners.

What, do the whole of England play for the English Team?

There's going to be a melt down on here either way tomorrow. No need to bring salty tears, these will be provided courtesy of Scotland.

The British media were going on and on about the altitude and how amazing the Mexicans were going to be so no idea what this 'bias' is?

So you have to go to the trouble of acquiring an Argentinian top just to get a free pint 😆 🤣 course they are.

Hear hear! From a fellow Scot. It’s so BABYISH. In fact, babies aren’t small-minded like this. It’s embarrassing.

It's a football game 😂