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?

I am Northern Irish from West Belfast so have really complex feelings about the English. But I live in London and have an English son now, so…

I would say that many people from the south east are somehow extremely reserved and stiff, in comparison with the warmth of those from further north of England, tho.

And London is rammed full of dickheads, of which I may have inadvertently become one.

Altitude isn't actually random BTW. Of the 89 games they've played in that stadium Mexico have only lost 2. Their record isnt similar elsewhere. But fair enough thats the game.
If its history though that's kinda sad. None of us have anything ro do with what happened begire we were born

London is full of dickheads? Nice.

It's exactly this.

In the rugby Wales played Fiji yesterday, Scotland played Argentina. National games. Do you know the results? I do. But were they reported? Not really, it's all about bloody England and a football game they haven't even played yet. People are allowed to be annoyed at anglo-centralist attitudes! It's frustrating and marginalising. Plus if they lose we won't bloody hear the end of it for two weeks.

Surely that has less to do with 'anglo centrism' than the fact that football is far more popular than rugby? Especially when there's a World Cup going on?

just sports

the English crapping on about how great their team is, is annoying. even the English know this

Maybe where you live - not where I live. Rugby in Wales has a massive historic pedigree. And this isn't just about the football, it happens all the time and with all sport. I guess if you're an England fan then maybe you won't have noticed or paid attention. But we have. I particularly love it when a Welsh victory is framed as 'British'. Come on, this has been going on for decades. Selective representation and some of it is probably manufactured rivalry.

We are over-optimistic knobheads about English football, I cringe at “it’s coming home” after every goal. It’s probably not. Again.

It was bloody marvellous watching how the Scottish fans endeared themselves to Boston and I felt a real sense of pride for them. I doubt many Scots would get fuzzy feelings if it were the other way round though!

But if you're talking about TV services covering all of Britain, then obviously they will pay more attention to a major football game involving England, which has a population of 58 million, to a rugby match involving Wales, with a population of 3 million.

Surely there are local Welsh channels where you can follow the rugby?

90% / 10% actually underplays the relative populations of England to Scotland. You don’t think that with 10 x the population / supporters / viewers England deserves even slightly more weighting? You must concede there are more people watch uk tv that are interested in English football than scottish?

Wow did you mean to come across as patronising? Yes our Channel 4 is S4C and I can watch all the rugby there. You've really missed the point. You are obviously a far more important nation due to your size. FFS.

I think I know what you’re getting at here. People dislike England fans. I wholeheartedly support England with rugby, support the team for football but dislike the fan behaviour and dislike the England cricket team because they’re a bunch of egotistical idiots twits who treat it like it’s a bit of fun (aside from Joe Root)

We are over-optimistic knobheads about English football, I cringe at “it’s coming home” after every goal. It’s probably not. Again.

You have clearly never listened to the song!

The whole point is indeed that it's probably not coming home. Again. It's the opposite of over optimistic. It's self deprecating and gently mocking in a very English way.

Embarrassing to whom? And "knuckle- draggers" is pushing it a bit. My entire family and friendship group enjoy supporting anyone playing England at any football match and are almost all university educated. It's good fun and harming no one. Why exactly should I support England?

The coverage of English football is just insufferable. We take bets as to how far into any match it takes for 1966 to be mentioned.

I also blame the English for Brexit. 78% in my part of Edinburgh voted remain and yet we were still landed with that whole shitshow.

There is also a sort of entitled English tourist anyone living in rural Scotland will easily recognise.

I lived in Kent for 6 years some time ago and barely a day passed when some fucker didn't think it was "hilarious" to take the piss out of my accent. Proud to be Scottish and delighted to return here.
🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

Do you all really have such little awareness of England’s history of violent colonialism and why that might that may have caused a lasting feeling of resentment?

I'm not sure there's any point having a discussion with you as you are clearly looking to take offence. But obviously a TV channel is going to prioritise what will attract viewers. And yes, an England football match is of much more interest to many more people than a Wales rugby match.

Also Scottish and 100% agree. Almost everyone know feels the same.

not sure what way to vote on your poll tho OP

In Ireland and Scotland England is the old enemy. English football fans have disgraced themselves terribly all over Europe . For the most part , Irish and Scottish people drink a lot but are happy singing drunks . English fans have a reputation of violence and destruction.

BTW It's ironic that Irish will not support England but the Premier League is well like with Man U and Liverpool the main groups.

Looking to take offence because I answered a question you asked? I didn't say that more people would want to watch Wales play rugby than watch England play football - you asked why people get frustrated. I answered. But you didn't like my answer. I don't hate the English. I lived in London for a decade and a half. I have lots of lovely English friends. But it is bloody insufferable that we get stuff shoved down our throats as if you're the only nation on the planet. You also have not represented yourself well as an English person tonight - "there must be a channel you can watch" - I mean are you for real? So rude and diminishing.

Why is being university educated of relevance? Being a bigoted knuckle dragger and university educated are not mutually exclusive.

And in any case, what has The Empire got to do with modern English/British people?
i don't hate Turkish people because of the Ottoman Empire 😄

Football is a far bigger sport than rugby.

Where did I say I'm English?

Like I say, you are clearly looking to be offended so I won't be continuing this discussion with you further.

Not in Wales. But that's also not the point is it?

I mean you started this thread, bit faux naive to get cross when people actually answer your query with their lived experience. But yes, I am the problem. Honestly, I despair.