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

[sweetLovelyPassionfruit]

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.

My family are similar & i really couldn't care less.

I gave up years ago getting annoyed by it as it wasn't changing anything other than me getting more & more annoyed by it.

Now I just disengage & let them carry on & I'm much happier for it.

When they watch ALL of the games (not just england ones) I just do something else that I enjoy. Over the last 3 weeks Ive watched a lot of films I usually don't have time to watch & it's been a really relaxing way to spend my evenings - I'm actually going to be sad when it's over as then I'll have to spend more time doing family things with them!!

You cant control what others talk about or are interested in so stop trying & do something you enjoy instead.

Oh come of it!!

Stop making everything about bloody race.

My sympathies; football-free zone here too!

Just take yourself off and do something else which you do find interesting. I love it when my family are occupied and I can go for a walk/ read a magazine in peace. You can’t police your family’s interests and it’s not like anyone handcuffed you to a chair and forced you to watch it/ listen to them chat.

Yeah just walk away and spend time doing other things without them. It's a shame that it totally dominates what should be family time. I wonder why they can't discuss anything else though, that's a bit weird! I mean my dh and ds are really enjoying the Euros but we still have conversations about lots of other things.

You're an adult. Remove yourself and do something you want to do while they enjoy themselves. It would be better for everyone.

It's the first time autistic DS has got excited about a sporting event (his love of flags has helped) so I'm embracing it for that. I love sport - I'm not a massive football fan but I enjoy following the tournaments. I also grew up with a football mad DB and Ddad so it's always been part of the background for me.

The last couple of years I have started to find it a problem in places of work though - the last contract I had I didn't extend and part of that was due to a couple of men in the open plan office who talked loudly about football all day - also ignoring any women who might want to join in a conversation or god forbid talk about something else such as...work.

I'm lucky my DH does follow a team - he actually works at their stadium part time - but isn't obsessed.

I think you have to just suck it up for the Euros I'm afraid but I would have to say something if it carried on after.

It will always be a big deal

'just walk away from you family' seems a recurring theme in this thread and its quite upsetting

I'm in a football heavy family. Son trains twice a week, plays once a week, referees under 14s games. Him and Husband watch and follow local football team and now it's Euros.

Doesn't bother me. If I don't want to watch a match, I go and watch something else or do a puzzle or read my book.

I'm quite happy to let them do their own thing in terms of football but them we still spend time together which is non football, though football talk does creep in.

If you don't like it, you can't force yourself to like it so wouldn't help if you organised some non football related things to do that interest you?

If they refuse then you've got bigger problems which need addressing.

Yes

Those famous black players, waddle, pearce, Beckham, neville, Rooney, southgate, carragher, batty

🤔

They mean leave the room and find something else to do. You don't need to be in the same room as your family at all times

Not until next month. Looking forward to it.

Dear god, op, they weren't wrong when they told you that you were dramatic, were they???

Don't spend time with them?

If they are obsessed with football then inevitably during the euros that is all they will talk about.

Same as someone obsessed with fashion during London fashion week or similar.

So just probably easier to go and do something else

Oh for goodness sake, we all mean pop upstairs and read a magazine, go for a coffee or a walk when it gets a bit too much. Not abandon the whole family permanently. This is eminently sensible when, by your own admission, you are spoiling the mood and snapping at people! Surely that’s more upsetting- sucking joy from something your family are excited about.

It’s also very normal for families to have their own time- I am sitting in the garden at the moment, one kid inside, the other two out doing a hobby with DH. Why an earth would this be “upsetting”.

wow guy the sport torture continues!