AIBU to wonder if anti-English feeling is mostly about sport

[Batsratscatsgnats]

If you support anyone but England in football or other sports do you dislike English people generally or is it just in sports?

Wales is not part of this discussion, so what's the possible relevance? For what it's worth I blame them too.

Trump interfering has made most people support Belgium.

There's been an attempt to frame that as somehow being a result of foreign influence/immigrants up to no good. Which is very silly if you have eyes (there was a variety of skin tones rioting including many white French looking types) or any knowledge of European/UK football history (occasional football hooliganism is definitely not something we imported from the Middle East/Africa). Likewise the Dutch right wing news were pulling shocked faces at Morrocan hi-jinks. Ignoring that the Dutch have also gotten rowdy at times. If anything, you could argue Dutch-Morocans were proving how well integrated they are!

But it is interesting how easily people try to twist these incidents. I guess, because film of large crowds of people running around/the occasional small fire or firework and police in riot gear is emotionally resonant. But on the one hand you have trouble makers claiming it is all the immigrants threatening Western civilization. In the other, it's the English horrifying the world with our unique inability to accept victories/defeat with calm good grace. It's all just about setting a narrative, rage baiting or shot stirring IMO. I just want to enjoy football and be happy when we win

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That and their cringey football chants

I think it is more than just sports. It's the weather, as well news reporting in general - for example, something reported as happening in Aberdeen "in Scotland" but they would never say "Warwick, in England". The default is assumed to be that everyone knows about England but Scotland (wales, N Ireland) is a bit weird. And "up in " Scotland ...etc but never "down in England" . the assumption that if you are Southern English you "don't have an accent" but everyone else does. It's constant subtle "othering" I suppose.

And them offering their American expertise on soccer football even though they didn't know Messi from Ronaldo 3 weeks ago.

It is so obviously about hate here and not banter here with you. You can't even give a grudging England did well.

Awww I like the earnestness of the delivery.

I don't feel like Americans deserve to be penalised because of Trumps general Trumpness.... But the fact he was actually able to intercede has made me want Belgium to succeed now. It's a pity because the actual player who was red carded seems like a perfectly decent human being.

Not at all. Looking forward to the Norway match. They're on great form.

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So are we. I predict a draw and penalties.

Yep. This.

But equally, flooding in Sheffield will get a brief mention as Wheely bins float down the streets. But a few inches of flood water in London willnhet hours of rolling news coverage

All the journalists live in London. All the major newspapers seem to be based there (except specifically Scottish papers obviously), most news channels are in London (I guess the BBC at least alhas a Salford base). So a lot of the news is weighted to London. I don't think that's a sinister English plot to ignore the Scottish/Welsh. It's just London-centrism.

I must admit that I wouldn’t either. For the simple reason that I have zero interest in the England Team. That’s not a slur btw. I’m just not interested.

Err it's relevant because you keep wittering on about the English being responsible for Brexit all by themselves?

NI's Leave vote was 44%.
Your wonderful Scotland's Leave vote was 38%.

They're hardly tiny percentages, are they?

Awww I like the earnestness of the delivery.

Doesn’t matter. We voted remain.

Well done, good job! Will y'all shut the fuck up about it now? No thought not.

1966, Maradonna hand of God, yadda yadda. Insufferable when you win, insufferable when you lose. Basically just fucking insufferable.

That is fair enough. I am commenting because she seems interested in football.

Celtic fans behaved appallingly at the Hearts match where Hearts had a chance of winning the FA Cup.

He may or may not be 'decent' but that was a deserved red card and having him reinstated is unheard of in the history of the World Cup.

Trump had been interfering before, for example by forcing the Iranian team to leave the country on the day of their matches, but this is the first time he's directly interfered in the game itself. And of course he gets his way. FIFA is an extraordinarily corrupt organisation, but it's not like there's any competition so everyone just has to grin and bear it.

Finally a point of potential agreement. I predict the same but Norway will win on penalties as England have a frankly rubbish record.

I know nobody who talks about those things constantly. It is the media. 🙄 I am pretty sure you wouldn't shut up if Scotland had beaten a Mexico team who never lose at home and at that altitude. Oh and for the record I think Norway will be hard. Maybe stop believing the media?

Do you mean the Green Brigade?

What you mean the FA cup?