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?

Hilarious isn't it. Non stop moaning about a country some of these people are happy to earn money by living in.

Well, in sport and other stuff, Scotland and England seem to get out of sorts with each other at times. But, it’s harmless.

Not noticed it from anyone else though particularly.

I don't think you get it at all. Yes borders have been changed, countries have been partitioned but what is different in Northern Ireland is that it is still governed by Britain and a sizeable number of people living there do not want that or recognise it, that is the same for many living in Ireland. They are still fighting for a United Ireland, still view part of their country colonsied. I mean did you just miss the whole period between the 70s and 90s in Northern Ireland? There is thankfully a tentative peace now but the political fight for full independence is still there rumbling on, it is not the past, it is not resolved and a United Ireland is still very much an aim for many.

And the Republic of Ireland isn’t ruled by Westminster.
No it isn't but most Irish people do view the 6 counties of Northern Ireland as still colonised so part of their country is still under British rule and many will not be happy until it is part of a United Ireland. The partition initially led to a grueling civil war in Ireland I am sure it is no surprise to you that the aspiration is still for a United Ireland. The Good Friday agreement has meant it will be left to the people of Northern Ireland to eventually decide that for themselves but most people in Ireland and among the nationalist community in Northern Ireland see it as a given at some stage in the future, how far into the future that will be is unclear at this stage.

🤣 You whinged all the way through it.

What? They pay you to live there?

The English football supporters leave a lot to be desired. I think if Stella cans in hand, drunk and aggressive if they lose. Also all the WAG stuff really puts me off English football. I am supporting Norway on Saturday.

You've argued all the way through it.

The “WAG stuff” (whatever that means) hasn’t been a major media issue at a tournament for 20 years. If you mean stuff like the Rooney court battle, that’s got nothing to do with the England team. And breaking news, non-English players have wives and girlfriends too.

Your stereotyping of England fans is ridiculous. I suggest you try a night out with the Italian ultras or some of the virulently racist elements of Eastern European fandom for a nice sedate evening.

I don’t care whether people hate England or not; I just wish they’d be honest about the reason, which is simply xenophobia dressed up as real concern.

And the hate is different to rivalry. I love it when we beat any of the home nations or Germany because we have a rivalry with them. It’s not because I hate those nations (because I don’t).

I know 😊

Why is it xenophobia? I am not English and I have twice seen English fans go on a rampage and break things in the city centre where I live because they lost. Whatever you think, in the rest of Europe, England fans have a bad rep.

And when I say break things, I mean people have to keep indoors and restaurants and pubs close. I cannot think of other countries fans behaving like that. Seems better this World Cup. Probably too expensive for the riff raff to travel there.

Err, France has violent riots, even when their team wins.
German fans are famous for needing to be kettled to prevent mass disorder.
Belgium and Dutch fans aren't much better.
A significant proportion of Balkan countries have an incredibly racist fan base, as does some Italians.
Even the Scandinavians have football gangs.
And you conveniently forget how nasty some Scots become when Celtic and Rangers play.

You can't think of other county's fans that do this? You're exaggerating anyway and in denial. Turkish and Russian fans rank higher than England for violence.

Looks like somebody's on a wind up.

The 'WAG stuff' peaked about 15 years ago.

Could you name a current 'WAG'? I couldn't.

And I used to live in Italy and I can assure you that 'WAGs' were very much a thing there. The ex wife of former Italy captain Francesco Totti even got her own Netflix show.

Ok. But there isn't and ABScotland thing. So why is there one for the English Team do you think?

I get it I just disagree with you [that Ireland is unique in its externally constructed borders]. I don’t think the situation with the Republic of Ireland is dissimilar to many other countries that the country nation state does not reflect what they feel it should be. I also am not sure if Ireland was one united Ireland that much would change re: support for English teams.

I get your view as to the rationale for Ireland. I am just wondering why it’s so different for other nations with similar / same histories of colonisation by the various British nations. Where support for England teams would be far more varied.

I’m wondering the same. It seems a popular conspiracy theory/obsession that gets trotted about around Eurovision time especially. The only dislike I’ve seen around Brits is from residents of popular holiday destinations, particularly those that attract very young people, as the drinking gets very out of hand. I’m Greek, for context

And to be clear I am not even talking about it as a new thing. Even when still colonised a number of the colonised nations would refer to England as the mother country (this was certainly the case in many Caribbean nations) and I never understood why.

(meant to be an addition to my post above.)

Tbh I was so sick of hearing about the Scottish team (and it was all over the media) I was pleased they went out when they did. It would have been unbearable if they'd got further. And Swinney and the separatists would have hijacked it.

As it turned out Scotland was considerably less impressive by a great margin than Cape Verde.

You're very offensive.

I mean while I personally liked hearing about the Scottish team and the tartan army this poster is only saying exactly the same thats been said on repeat about England.

Her offensive language was nothing to do with the football.

That’s football not English fans per se. Look at the recent football riots in France, or the notorious racism of a number of European teams. I think English fans in the past had a deserved terrible reputation. Less so now.

I used to waitress at football grounds and hated catching the bus home if it was full of fans of various football teams here in the UK. It wouldn’t bother me now though.

Will change my name to Red ‘Skull-Splitter’ Rock41 🇳🇴 for Saturday… it’s just tradition, #ABE but think this is England’s 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 year so just enjoy 🏆. They’re playing great 👏.