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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say the anti-football lot need to calm down a little?

336 replies

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:20

I didn’t stay up for the match because there was no way to make it work with my job, but if I could’ve I would’ve.

I can’t understand the actual visceral anger on here about it? It’s one night - kids won’t drop dead at school, workplaces won’t fail, but a lot of people will have just had a brilliant night.

I just don’t understand why some people can’t accept that others enjoy other things and it doesn’t need to be a big deal?

OP posts:
ObelixtheGaul · 06/07/2026 06:49

I think it's the opposite. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the game or staying up for it, but all the hysterical over dramatic nonsense about it being 'historic' and the kids will remember it all their lives, etc. It's a tournament that happens every four years, it was only the final 16, which England have reached a few times.

Some of the carry on on the thread about whether or not her son should stay up (and I did think he should) was ridiculous. We don't get this silly about any other sport.

It's great that we are doing well and people like watching it, but there might be less vitriol if people didn't seem to have lost all perspective over a fairly regularly occuring sporting event at a relatively early stage in the contest. I could have understood it if it was the semis or the final, but at this stage it really isn't this massive historic never to be repeated moment.

DandelionClockSeeds · 06/07/2026 06:52

Alternative view.
Its a football match. They happen frequently. OK, this one happens a bit less frequently.

Watch it if you want, sleep through it if you want. The whole "can my child be late to school" "outrage the fanzone will be shut" "will my local be showing the game" had been everywhere for days. Does it matter?? Do whatever you want. Im not fussed, but it's bern unavoidable - especially adding in potential thunder and changed starts.

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:53

This reply has been deleted

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Jibbetyflib · 06/07/2026 06:55

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:43

It’s the end of term. They’re not doing anything, I know that from my niece who has spent the last week doing absolutely naff all.

I don’t have kids, but this is what I mean. It’s not irresponsible to let your kids watch the football, they won’t die from one day of less sleep and the school won’t burn down!

It's a football match. Nobody will die if they don't watch it.

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:55

DandelionClockSeeds · 06/07/2026 06:52

Alternative view.
Its a football match. They happen frequently. OK, this one happens a bit less frequently.

Watch it if you want, sleep through it if you want. The whole "can my child be late to school" "outrage the fanzone will be shut" "will my local be showing the game" had been everywhere for days. Does it matter?? Do whatever you want. Im not fussed, but it's bern unavoidable - especially adding in potential thunder and changed starts.

But this was actually history - we’re the first team in history to beat Mexico at the Azteca in a World Cup. That’s a pretty big deal.

OP posts:
Thepeopleversuswork · 06/07/2026 06:56

ObelixtheGaul · 06/07/2026 06:49

I think it's the opposite. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the game or staying up for it, but all the hysterical over dramatic nonsense about it being 'historic' and the kids will remember it all their lives, etc. It's a tournament that happens every four years, it was only the final 16, which England have reached a few times.

Some of the carry on on the thread about whether or not her son should stay up (and I did think he should) was ridiculous. We don't get this silly about any other sport.

It's great that we are doing well and people like watching it, but there might be less vitriol if people didn't seem to have lost all perspective over a fairly regularly occuring sporting event at a relatively early stage in the contest. I could have understood it if it was the semis or the final, but at this stage it really isn't this massive historic never to be repeated moment.

Agree. And then invariably the endless rounds of “Its coming home,” ad nauseam and then the predictable bitterness and anger when we get beaten at quarter finals or semifinals with predictable violence, vitriol and over-drinking. The way we behave when we lose is pathetic. You would think we should be used to it.

Its fun to celebrate but a lot of us need to learn where to draw the line. And that its not life or death.

Hawksie · 06/07/2026 06:58

I work with rough sleepers, they will have experienced increased levels of violence over night and I'm dreading today as it's basically increased levels of violence to a population that are already excluded from our health care system

Thankfully some of the old timers said they would look out for the 'young uns' but it's still going to be a really awful day

MoreDangerousThanAWomanScorned · 06/07/2026 06:58

This reply has been deleted

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It doesn't really matter if you believe me, it's true. But forgive me for not liking your insistence that it's fine for everything to just stop for the football because it's such a big deal.

DandelionClockSeeds · 06/07/2026 06:59

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:55

But this was actually history - we’re the first team in history to beat Mexico at the Azteca in a World Cup. That’s a pretty big deal.

Mexico have lost at that stadium before tho.
Its just another stat people are throwing about to make it more than a load of blokes chasing a ball.

category12 · 06/07/2026 07:02

Meh, people are allowed to whinge about the hype over the football, and football fans are allowed to bore on about football.

ForWiseRoseCat · 06/07/2026 07:02

I don't begrudge people being allowed to start later due to the football but next time Australia or another Southern Hemisphere country get the Rugby World Cup and the matches are at 1am I hope the same thing is done for us rugby fans.

Or if we have a Brit in the Australian Open tennis final or for the Ashes.

But you know it won't be because for some reason football gets pandered to even when we know we'll lose eventually.

randomchap · 06/07/2026 07:03

DandelionClockSeeds · 06/07/2026 06:59

Mexico have lost at that stadium before tho.
Its just another stat people are throwing about to make it more than a load of blokes chasing a ball.

It's the world's most popular sport. A major cultural event.

Boomer55 · 06/07/2026 07:03

Fantastic match - but all stress to watch it. 👍👍⚽️⚽️⚽️

NewName12345678910 · 06/07/2026 07:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WTF are you on about. Are you a man?

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 06/07/2026 07:06

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:55

But this was actually history - we’re the first team in history to beat Mexico at the Azteca in a World Cup. That’s a pretty big deal.

That's a very minor piece of sporting trivia that dull men will trot out in the pub in ten years time.

NewName12345678910 · 06/07/2026 07:07

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:55

But this was actually history - we’re the first team in history to beat Mexico at the Azteca in a World Cup. That’s a pretty big deal.

😂😂😂. Are you still drunk?

66babe · 06/07/2026 07:08

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:32

Then half your colleagues haven’t booked AL, have they? It has to be confirmed 6 weeks in advance!

I work in healthcare and do not have to book 6 weeks in advance
I promise you we will be very short staffed today

celandiney · 06/07/2026 07:09

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:55

But this was actually history - we’re the first team in history to beat Mexico at the Azteca in a World Cup. That’s a pretty big deal.

It’s a game - that’s an interesting thing that happened, it’s a first, but in the big scheme of ”things that have happened in history” it’s pretty minor.
All sorts of allowances are made for football which are not made for all the other different interests and hobbies that give people joy,and that is what is so wearing - the assumption from fans that of course you are interested, of course it’s reasonable for there to be disruption to other peoples days because of it,etc etc.
Great if there can be flexibilty in life around the things people enjoy but then it needs to be all the things people enjoy not just a select few.

Bluesclues1 · 06/07/2026 07:11

I don’t understand the people saying that kids won’t remember waking up in the night to watch the match. I remember being about 10 and living abroad when my dad woke us up in the night to watch England vs Brazil in the World Cup - it was so exciting (despite losing!) and we still talk about it now!

Meadowfinch · 06/07/2026 07:12

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:43

It’s the end of term. They’re not doing anything, I know that from my niece who has spent the last week doing absolutely naff all.

I don’t have kids, but this is what I mean. It’s not irresponsible to let your kids watch the football, they won’t die from one day of less sleep and the school won’t burn down!

It is not the end of term. There are still two and a half weeks to go That's more than 6% of the academic year, trying to cram in a curriculum that doesn't fit to start with.

ObelixtheGaul · 06/07/2026 07:14

66babe · 06/07/2026 07:08

I work in healthcare and do not have to book 6 weeks in advance
I promise you we will be very short staffed today

Yeah, it's a funny thing, nobody can possibly take time off work when school closes early or for the day due to the heatwave, but all of a sudden its no Biggie to chuck a sickie or get time off.

Hmmm.

Meadowfinch · 06/07/2026 07:16

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:55

But this was actually history - we’re the first team in history to beat Mexico at the Azteca in a World Cup. That’s a pretty big deal.

Listen to yourself. Do you realise how foolish you are?

Spottyness · 06/07/2026 07:16

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:55

But this was actually history - we’re the first team in history to beat Mexico at the Azteca in a World Cup. That’s a pretty big deal.

A big deal to you and to many people, but not everyone (and an incorrect fact but hey ho). I don’t know why football fans get so uppity about people who aren’t football fans. Enjoy your hobby, stay out for a big game, book the next day off, have fun, don’t worry about those of us who aren’t football fans.

Thawtfulpanda · 06/07/2026 07:19

Dh is watching it now. He got the DC up at 5.30 and haven't seen the score so they're watching it 'live'. I know the score. I wouldnt have let him get the DC up otherwise. It's a nice experience for them. And bonus is they're all ready for school and it's not even 7:30. We are usually shouting by the door at 8:30 in a panic. And I got the dog walked at 5. Might do this every day!

DappledThings · 06/07/2026 07:19

nowillpowernoproblem · 06/07/2026 06:38

Oh no! One day of a little less watching films at the end of term! However will they cope! Genuinely I don’t know whats gone wrong in this country lately

Is that post you've quote evidence of the "visceral anger" you're claiming to have seen? Because like that post all I've seen is some mild disapproval and surprise that people would let young children stay up.

My 10 year old didn't ask to but I wouldn't have let him if he had. That doesn't make me feel superior to anyone or angry with those that did.

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