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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think i'd rather be anywhere tonight than Madrid?

167 replies

DonkeyHohtay · 31/05/2019 18:38

Yes, even in a pissing wet west of Scotland.

The poor madrilenos who are having to put up with their beautiful central square being taken over by a crowd of chanting yobs. I'm sure individually, most football fans are decent blokes. But put a group of them together and they start chanting, whooping, "singing", clapping, pointing and jeering.

It's just AWFUL.

OP posts:
Teateaandmoretea · 31/05/2019 21:39

I think it is a bit disturbing that with the number of unnecessary planes that are flying around europe spewing out CO2 for football matches between English teams the biggest thing for some people is a bit of chanting. Lets keep the chanting in the UK and reduce everyone's carbon footprint is my opinion.

superram · 31/05/2019 21:42

I’m a well educated, early forties professional woman. I was singing my heart out in central London last weekend (we lost.....). I am not a yob, I recycled my g&t cans and had a fabulous weekend (minus 90 mins of football). If you were in Madrid the weekend of a huge sporting event and don’t like football or crowds or people having fun then maybe go on a cold, wet weekend in November.

Clubbercised · 31/05/2019 21:42

The chanting really wouldn't bother me, unless I had to work in the morning and it went on late into the night or I had a baby who didn't like the noise.

I remember the videos of the England fans last world cup though. Didn't they trash an ambulance... because England WON a football match Confused? I mean...wtaf? That really pissed me off. It was sickening. Even it I had been a big England footie fan before that, I'd have wanted to take an enormous step back after that.

Don't they say it's a substitute for war? We don't have tribal war here anymore, so this is how people fill that need. It's fascinating to me, but occasionally irritating.

Is it just football that inspires this sort of thing? I've been to other sports and it's all been pretty civilised.

howwudufeel · 31/05/2019 21:46

Some of the nicest people I know have gone to Madrid. I am sure they are having a great time and aren’t too worried about the OP judging them.

NotACleverName · 31/05/2019 22:01

It's the pictures of large tribes of young men, drinking beer, being loud. chanting, jeering, whooping.

Heaven forfend they enjoy themselves before the biggest match of the year.

It's really not snobby to think the vast majority of football fans are drunken, disrespectful louts.

It is. It's also 100% but okay.

chartymap · 31/05/2019 22:06

@Rafflesway alas yes it was extremely difficult for me to find childcare. Wish I’d put more effort in though! Dh waited for me to sort but in the end I thought he’d rather be with his mate. He got two tickets free through his job. I haven’t heard from him since he landed about 6 hours ago so I’m going to assume they’re having a jolly good time.

Clubbercised · 31/05/2019 22:10

The weirdest thing was, I think it was an English ambulance. The mind boggles.

Original poster
DonkeyHohtay · 31/05/2019 22:54

Not in Madrid. Not even in Spain.

Not a football fan of any description.

Being stuck anywhere with thousands of footie fans would be sheer hell though.

OP posts:
Rafflesway · 01/06/2019 00:17

Charty you are forgiven and I really sympathise.

I am a 30 years standing huge Real Madrid fan so am well experienced in the ecstasy and agony of a C.L final. Grin

PerspicaciaTick · 01/06/2019 00:54

DH and I were having a lovely weekend in Amsterdam when the Dutch national football team won something important. The streets were full of fans, so we went out and joined them. The atmosphere was amazing and we had a really fun evening.
DH and I are not fans at all, but sometimes you just need to try an experience which is a bit different from your usual preferences. It can be pleasantly surprising.

finallyy · 01/06/2019 01:35

I'm in Madrid right now, atmosphere is insane! I'm so excited for tomorrow in the fan park, but I am very nervous as there is no shade and it's ridiculously hot, factor 50 isn't going to cut it!
I'm lucky enough to have a ticket to the match, I went to Kiev last year and I'm so excited to be part of that incredible atmosphere again.

Football creates lifelong memories, my younger brothers (primary school age) are with me on this trip, and this experience will always be remembered! Especially if we win!!

I find your post hilarious op, and those who agree with it! I'm too excited and happy to go defensive mode, normally I would but I'm too busy supporting my team! YNWA!

BadLad · 01/06/2019 03:00

The wedding where the bride and groom were insisting it was about them and not the Champions' League final should be underway soon.

Hope we get an update.

Whatareyoutalkingabout · 01/06/2019 05:05

God forbid people have fun! Get excited! Or shudders make noise!!!

Virgil4 · 01/06/2019 06:31

ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ

TheAngryLlama · 01/06/2019 06:42

Let’s face it, people know what they’re talking about. Being caught up in a situation where there are a load of “excited” football fans isn’t fun for the bystander, because they’re pretty awful. Why do you think there has to be a fuckton of police there? My dad used to police matches in Liverpool and he fucking despises football fans. He won’t even have the game on the telly - despite never missing a home game as a young lad.

hammeringinmyhead · 01/06/2019 06:46

We've conquered all of Euroooope....

ForalltheSaints · 01/06/2019 07:00

Very different if it were say two Spanish teams playing each other at Wembley or two German teams at the Stade de France.

Agree with the OP that it cannot be nice for those who live in Madrid, which is such a beautiful and interesting place.

WhiteDust · 01/06/2019 07:04

These are family men and women who are showing passion, spending hard earned money supporting their football teams.

GrinGrinGrin

Time will tell!!

WhiteDust · 01/06/2019 07:06

Why do you think there has to be a fuckton of police there?

This.

Clubbercised · 01/06/2019 07:25

Yep, I remember chatting to a Met Officer and he said football matches were his least favourite things to police. It brings out the worst in a small minority of fans unfortunately. That's not to say people shouldn't be allowed to enjoy it in a... What's the word... Normal? In a normal way though.

But those denying there is any sort of problem with football fans when they gather en masse and that it's all naice middle class 40yos having a jolly good lark are either naive or liars.

I mean, it's common knowledge and there are movies made about football thug culture. Deny it all you like and laugh at the op too, but it's you who looks silly tbh if you honestly are saying it's all fun and games.

There are times when it isn't fun and games for the people caught up in it or for the people policing it.

If you luffs footie that's fab, but like millions of other people on the planet, the op doesn't. No need to take the hump with her for pointing out how she wouldn't like to be in Madrid. Chanting etc meh, wouldn't necessarily bother me, but I might think "ah fuck are these going to be normal football fans or cunt football fans". Because the latter exist and truly are foul. If you aren't a fan of football, it is a little irksome if you have to contend with them because of something you have no interest in.

Again, that isn't to say that decent fans shouldn't be allowed to celebrate.

I'd say the same if it was something else I wasn't interested in btw, like Morris dancing.

Imagine if there was a big Morris dancing competition going on in your town and some of the fans got overexcited and behaved like some of the cunt football fans. You'd find it a bit irksome no?

TheAngryLlama · 01/06/2019 07:31

The thing is though, for these people, they aren’t really enjoying themselves unless they are disrupting others. It’s not enough for them to have it, you’ve got to be made to have it too. That’s why people hate football.

Watchingthetelly · 01/06/2019 07:33

OP you sound so dull. And have you ever actually been to Madrid? It's a fabulous and large city. I'd love to be there tonight, I'd just avoid the crowds and have a lovely G&T sitting on a plaza somewhere.

BarbaraofSevillle · 01/06/2019 08:30

I'm sure the Madrilenos can manage one night without Plaza Major. It's there for the rest of the year, and yes, while it is beautiful, it is very crowded, touristy and expensive or even tacky a lot of the time - lots of touts and overpriced souveniers, like Las Ramblas in Barcelona or a lot of Venice.

And in any case, football is very popular there and the Spaniards are quite capable of being rowdy themselves. The Spanish football fans will also be watching the game, soaking up the atmosphere and beneftiing from the increased income that the match will bring.

LagunaBubbles · 01/06/2019 08:39

The wedding where the bride and groom were insisting it was about them and not the Champions' League final should be underway soon. Hope we get an update

Oh me to!

Clubbercised · 01/06/2019 08:58

My DH is at a wedding today. Nobody has even mentioned the football 😂😂😂. I had to point it out to him that there was a big match today and said would they be screening it somewhere at the venue for football fans. DH just looked at me as if I was quite mad and said "no, of course not".