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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I didn’t enjoy the women’s football

122 replies

Busbygirl · 23/08/2023 18:35

My friend came round yesterday and we got into the topic of the women’s football.
She asked me if I’d watched the match, which I did, however when asked I said I didn’t enjoy it.
She seemed to take massive offence to this comment saying How could I not support women? We need to stand together. I wasn’t much of a feminist. It was a much better game than the men’s football (which I don’t agree with).
Lots of other similar comments basically implying I was out of touch and not supporting the sisterhood.
The atmosphere became icy after this and she left shortly afterwards.
I mean are we not allowed to not enjoy something without it turning into a battle of the sexes? I feel life is becoming exhausting.
I prefer men’s tennis too but wouldn’t dare admit it to her.
AIBU to admit I prefer men’s football without having to justify myself?

OP posts:
BananaSlug · 23/08/2023 18:37

Don't enjoy dont want it? I never did.

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 23/08/2023 18:38

I didn't enjoy it either because we never really bothered turning up after hitting the crossbar and we could have played so much better than that. It was obvious we weren't going to equalise.

Ace56 · 23/08/2023 18:40

I think it’s a bit much to make a sweeping statement that you never enjoy watching women’s football. Some men’s matches are awful and just full of multiple fouls and players dramatically falling over. By comparison some of the women’s matches are amazing.

Fair enough to say you didn’t enjoy that particular match, but if you’d said to me you don’t like women’s football in general it would also annoy me if you were my friend.

ODFOx · 23/08/2023 18:42

Interesting take OP.
I'm not a football fan either way but DH is and I generally find women's football better as there is less gamesmanship/fake injuries/melodrama.
The women's final was a disappointment to me as even though the England team played as hard as women the Spanish team were playing like the whinny boys and claiming fake injuries/fouls a lot.
I'm going to stick with Rugby, cricket and tennis next year.

Theborder · 23/08/2023 18:43

I didn’t watch it, as I dislike football. It doesn’t matter if it’s males or females, it bores me to tears. My husband watched it though.

Valerie23 · 23/08/2023 18:47

I'm not remotely interested in football, whether it is men or women playing.

I've had no problem all my life saying I am not interested in football when it's been men playing but when I commented on a Facebook post saying I wasn't interested in watching the women's football which has been very hyped up, I got lots of replies slating me!

For some people (mostly women) they want you to take an interest in women playing football just because it's women playing!

That seems ridiculous to me and an insult to the women players.

Original poster
Busbygirl · 23/08/2023 18:50

Valerie23 · 23/08/2023 18:47

I'm not remotely interested in football, whether it is men or women playing.

I've had no problem all my life saying I am not interested in football when it's been men playing but when I commented on a Facebook post saying I wasn't interested in watching the women's football which has been very hyped up, I got lots of replies slating me!

For some people (mostly women) they want you to take an interest in women playing football just because it's women playing!

That seems ridiculous to me and an insult to the women players.

This is exactly what I mean, it’s almost like you’re not allowed to dislike it because you’re a woman. It’s ridiculous.

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 23/08/2023 18:51

For some people (mostly women) they want you to take an interest in women playing football just because it's women playing!

This. Football bores me shitless, both mens and womens. I like watching cycling, and I think on the whole there isn't much to choose between mens and womens in terms of interest and enjoyment, except far more mens events are televised on terrestrial stations.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 23/08/2023 18:52

Do you mean you watched and didn’t enjoy the final, as in the one game, or do you mean that you watched the tournament but didn’t really enjoy it. Not enjoying one match is very different to not enjoying the game of women’s football and I think the distinction is important. One game can be boring/disappointing etc. and the reasons for not enjoying that can be very different to not enjoying the women’s game generally (not that I agree but I can imagine people saying they find it slower, not as physical, lower standard compared to the top of the men’s game). It’s two very different conversations.

MrsTWH · 23/08/2023 18:53

I can’t really understand why, it’s the same game regardless of who plays it.

KitsyWitsy · 23/08/2023 18:53

I prefer the men’s football too. I don’t know why. I don’t think it should matter to anyone else what I prefer. You’re right to be peeved.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 23/08/2023 18:53

I couldn't care less about sports of any gender but I'd rather watch men's... only cause some of them are quite easy on the eye! Sexist? Maybe. Harmless? Totally!!!!

Ribena20 · 23/08/2023 18:57

If my friend said this then I'd think they were a knobhead.

Moonrising · 23/08/2023 19:00

I prefer the women's. It's way better. But everyone is entitled to their opinion.

NeedTheSeaside · 23/08/2023 19:00

Ace56 · 23/08/2023 18:40

I think it’s a bit much to make a sweeping statement that you never enjoy watching women’s football. Some men’s matches are awful and just full of multiple fouls and players dramatically falling over. By comparison some of the women’s matches are amazing.

Fair enough to say you didn’t enjoy that particular match, but if you’d said to me you don’t like women’s football in general it would also annoy me if you were my friend.

@Ace56

why would what I like to watch annoy you?
What difference does it make to you?

SallyWD · 23/08/2023 19:01

I am a big football fan, generally watch men's football and have supported the same team all my life. I did the watch the women's match and enjoyed it. However, what really annoyed me was all my friends (who usually hate football) going on and on about how much better women's football is: isn't it more fun, isn't it more enjoyable, don't women play more fairly etc etc. None of these people ever watch men's football so I don't know why they were suddenly such experts. It was just the usual women = good and must be praised, men = bad and must be slagged off at every opportunity. So boring!!

ThePuma · 23/08/2023 19:01

For all sorts of reasons, the quality of women’s football is objectively significantly lower than the quality of men’s football.

It’s not unreasonable to prefer men’s football, if you get enjoyment from the quality of the play.

Theborder · 23/08/2023 19:02

My daughter loves football so I took her to a lioness match (England v Italy). She said it was okay but prefers to watch the men play. (She’s a season ticket holder for our local team).

Ichabodandme · 23/08/2023 19:02

I have always wondered how a load of men get paid such obscene amounts of money to kick a ball around a pitch? I hate the whole mentality of football and it doesn’t change my views just because women play.

NeedTheSeaside · 23/08/2023 19:03

MrsTWH · 23/08/2023 18:53

I can’t really understand why, it’s the same game regardless of who plays it.

@MrsTWH but it's not though. Not in football, not in tennis, not in cycling.

fifferent isn't bad, it's just different

TypicalCoach · 23/08/2023 19:04

Ichabodandme · 23/08/2023 19:02

I have always wondered how a load of men get paid such obscene amounts of money to kick a ball around a pitch? I hate the whole mentality of football and it doesn’t change my views just because women play.

You could say that about movie stars ane musicians. Private businesses can pay their staff what they like and tmgife the sponsorship and tv money they can qfford it .

Theborder · 23/08/2023 19:06

@Ichabodandme

Because people love to watch it. It’s as simple as that. I don’t I mean I couldn’t care less but I can see it for what it is. A sport which many individuals love. It starts in childhood for many. My next door neighbours kid from around the age of 2 was and is obsessed with balls, literally obsessed. His dad is disappointed because he doesn’t like football and doesn’t understand it.

I always used to think ffs just buy him a ball for his garden. He did in the end and he plays football much to his dads disgust. It’s just in some kids… boys and girls. It’s a universal language.

FutureThroughLensOfThePast · 23/08/2023 19:06

There's no obligation to enjoy it - I didn't watch any of it. I wished the Lionesses well, of course, I'm just not interested in watching football.

Hesma · 23/08/2023 19:06

I loved, there was some excellent football. Japan were interesting to watch as were many other teams. I can see why you weren’t enamoured if you only watched lacklustre England but if you genuinely live football there were some great matches.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 23/08/2023 19:06

I watched it and didn't enjoy it either.

I felt we played poorly and it annoyed me. However I feel the same about England men's team a lot of the time too.

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