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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Getting annoyed with family about Football (Especially with the Euros being on)

67 replies

sweetLovelyPassionfruit · 12/07/2024 21:48

I need to know if I'm unreasonable. My family is obsessed with football. Every single conversation somehow turns into a discussion about games, players, or scores (YAWN). With the Euros happening right now, it's like football has completely taken over our lives. It feels like I’m living in a constant sports broadcast what I can’t escape.

Trying to Be Supportive
At first, I tried to be supportive. I watched the games, asked questions, and at leats be a little exited, but it's just not for me. I don’t like it at all, and honestly, it's drives me up the wall. It feels like there’s no room for anything else in our lives anymore.

Reaching a Breaking Point :(

I’ve hinted and even directly asked if we could talk about something else sometimes, but nothing changes. The other week, we had a big family gathering, and the whole time was spent talking about the Euros (great escape that whoopty doo). Even talking about buying shirts, the blooming price of them!!! After hours of this, I finally snapped.

The Aftermath
Everyone went quiet and stared at me like I had just cursed at them. They said I was being dramatic and ruining their fun. They told me that football is something they all enjoy, and I should just deal with it or join in. But I can’t. It's making me feel like I don’t even exist in my own family unless I’m talking about football.

Feeling Guilty :((

Now, everything is slightyly unfun. I feel bad for snapping, but I’m also really frustrated that my simple request to talk about something else was seen as a huge deal. I just want to feel included without having to pretend to care about football all the time.

OP posts:
NChange10 · 12/07/2024 22:14

It's an easy thing to connect around. Politics religion and jobs are hard. It's over soon.
I think you should have not snapped. Can you slope off with some women somewhere? Or men who don't rate football?

FuzzyStripes · 12/07/2024 22:16

sweetLovelyPassionfruit · 12/07/2024 22:03

I guess its to do with society's expectations of 'put on a brave face and look like youre having fun' vs 'maybe look a bit miserable but be authentic'

I don’t think you should put up with it. Leave them to it and go out or elsewhere in the house and enjoy what you like doing.

OhHelloMiss · 12/07/2024 22:17

This can't have just crept up on you if they are all such big football fans? You surely know they love the sport?

What would you actually prefer to talk about? This is a big thing for football fans

BeFunnyQuail · 12/07/2024 22:18

I've heard about fuses falling out of plug sockets by themselves and being found days later, theres a HORRIBLE THOUGHT

sweetLovelyPassionfruit · 12/07/2024 22:21

OhHelloMiss · 12/07/2024 22:17

This can't have just crept up on you if they are all such big football fans? You surely know they love the sport?

What would you actually prefer to talk about? This is a big thing for football fans

I like politics and naps and more melancholy things. Find football 'rowdy' and 'draining'.

OP posts:
sweetLovelyPassionfruit · 12/07/2024 22:21

BeFunnyQuail · 12/07/2024 22:18

I've heard about fuses falling out of plug sockets by themselves and being found days later, theres a HORRIBLE THOUGHT

is this really something people do ??? Seems rather dishonest ...

OP posts:
PassingStranger · 12/07/2024 22:25

ElinoristhenewEnid · 12/07/2024 22:05

My home is officially a 'sports free zone'. No football or tennis has been watched here. Utter bliss!Smile

Utter boredom.💤

sweetLovelyPassionfruit · 12/07/2024 22:31

Tennis is even more boring actually (forgot to add) !!! Football can have slightly interesting moments but its a pain to hear about ALL THE TIME.

Maybe, had I been born in Barcelona or something, I'dve been slightly more inspired ;)

OP posts:
ForestForever · 12/07/2024 22:32

My DH is football mad, it’s literally on all the time in some form or another. He will watch any football from any league not just the Euros etc. I just let him get on with it because he’s an adult and it’s his life and I do something else because personally I’d rather watch paint dry but it’s his hobby and I’m happy he’s happy. Ask them not to talk to you about it and ignore any further attempts at conversation about it. You can’t stop them from liking it but in equal measure they can’t expect you to like it just because they do.

lazyarse123 · 12/07/2024 22:35

I don't care about the football and fortunately neither does anyone else who lives here. DH might flick the TV over to see who's winning but that's it.
What I really can't stand is all the discussions on the news, who cares what anyone thinks before they've even played? Everything is dissected to the nth degree. Why? What difference does it make what Fred down the pub thinks the score will be?
I'm with you op and I would snap too.

Mayorq · 12/07/2024 22:37

"Sorry, if they win they will go on about it for the next 60 years.
If they lose they will disect every kick and blame someone."

*blame someone ... black.

sweetLovelyPassionfruit · 12/07/2024 23:25

I do agree, lots of theoretical stuff, but with the amount of stress they're under (and the volatility of it all) not so much applied

OP posts:
Ivesaidenough · 12/07/2024 23:44

You have all my sympathy, I thought I was the only one. I know this is light hearted (is it?) but actually I feel left out in my own house all the time. Every conversation comes back to football. I just sit there silently. It's quite lonely.
If I make any comments or try to join in I get, well, you don't know anything about football so...
I know more than I want to.

MeouwCat · 12/07/2024 23:48

Once the euros are over .... its the start of a new season

BurntBroccoli · 13/07/2024 00:05

You are not being unreasonable. I really hate football!

Saw a sign in Lidl yesterday saying they would open an hour late on Monday morning so the staff can watch and have a lie in.

I don't think they did this for the women's team. Never watched any of this either!

SeaGalz · 13/07/2024 00:20

It's coming home😉

Apparently.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/07/2024 00:24

I quite like football, but I’m trying to imagine it feel to you like I feel when my son is talking about Pokémon cards. If it’s like that I feel for you as that bores me to absolute tears!

SwanRivers · 13/07/2024 00:25

TheaBrandt · 12/07/2024 21:55

Loving your layout and paragraph titling! Does sound annoying

It's funny how we're all different.

But I found the weird layout and paragraph titling more annoying than the football talk sounds, and I'm not even a football fan.

They said I was being dramatic and ruining their fun.

Your opening post does make you sound a bit like that to be fair.

thebluebeyond · 13/07/2024 00:26

Find a ladies team and join in. I started aged 55. I love it now.

WonderfulUsername · 13/07/2024 00:28

BeFunnyQuail · 12/07/2024 22:18

I've heard about fuses falling out of plug sockets by themselves and being found days later, theres a HORRIBLE THOUGHT

Unless you're talking about someone spoiling a child's enjoyment, an adult would have to be pretty stupid not to just watch it on another device, or check and realise a nasty control freak has tampered with the socket?

Ilovecleaning · 13/07/2024 00:34

Hobbesmanc · 12/07/2024 21:50

Gosh. It's all over on Sunday. Just grit your teeth and join in.

But OP says it’s like this all the time but even worse while the Euros are on.

Ilovecleaning · 13/07/2024 00:35

It would drive me insane. It’s like your home life isn’t your own.

SleepingStandingUp · 13/07/2024 00:40

Op you say family but who? Hubby and seven kids, your parents and siblings, every relative you've ever met?

I don't think you should just grin and bear it. Ok you're the minority but it's still your home and your life. You should be allowed to want a connection that isn't a ball of air being kicked around

Ihateslugs · 13/07/2024 00:51

Don’t forget, the new season starts in a few weeks! I notice the team my family support are playing some pre season friendlies so even earlier!

I don’t really like football but it’s safer to pretend to support The Team or risk being ostracised by everyone! Even my mum had a season tickets and went to all home matches until she was 86 yrs old and loved nothing more than discussing every move with my brother afterwards! Even my sister who lives in the US joins in!

Krumblina · 13/07/2024 05:45

Maybe don't hang out with them ATM. Leave them to it. They won't stop doing it unfortunately.