Gotta say I wholeheartedly disagree with that. There is just a continual, increasingly-desperate attempt by the 'woke' bandwagon and media to demonise the England football fan. I don't think booing the opposition anthem (especially your biggest rivals) is worthy of all this nonsense. Maybe we should just get rid of any sort of atmosphere altogether. You travel to an away game, you should expect some hostility; it's just part of the theatre. As long as it is kept in the stands and doesn't boil over into violence on the streets, then it's fine. I remember in the Archers Road end singing about Posh Spice taking it up the arse. It might not be politically correct, but it's a football match ffs. I saw on twitter after the game people complaining that England fans cheered when the face of a young German girl crying was shown on the big screen after we went 2-0 up. I mean, come on, that's just funny. Harsh, but funny. Your average England football fan is decent. But we have to feel ashamed of ourselves just for getting drunk and having a laugh. It's bollocks. By the way, my feeling toward national anthems, is that they shouldn't be played at football matches anyway. Unnecessary.
If that is what being a football fan means, then count me out. I’m 71 and no way woke, but I couldn’t do or say any of the ‘normal’ things expected by this post. Stupid old fart maybe, but not racist, mysogynist or cruel. Using drink as an excuse to be a d******d is pathetic.
I do get what you mean, and agree to an extent - I don't think anyone wants football necessarily 'sanitised' in that sense, but to coin a boxing analogy, the booing of the anthems is like throwing a punch before the bell. I personally believe that the opponents should be respected in that sense prior to the game. Of course, once the game is underway, the pantomime can begin in earnest and boo all you like when Werner takes a fall or Pogba spoons a ball over the bar, and you can sing the songs etc etc. We're pretty much the only country that doesn't 'get' that (with an exception I suspect to the rule being when we play another home nation away), and it does depress me a bit. I don't believe that's fair game, and I think it's pretty lacking in class. EDIT: I wouldn't conflate it with the new, fairly dubious tendency towards 'wokeness' either. There's simply right and wrong. And for me, this part of it falls into the latter.
I agree, I've never liked the booing of the opponents anthem as I have always felt it drives them on further. It is fair game during the game to boo etc your opponent, though the pessimist in me hates the "you're not singing anymore" song lol.
If we were going to an England-Germany game in a few days time from now, and you said to me, "Will you boo their anthem?", I would answer "no". If you said to me, "Do you want the England fans in general, to boo the German anthem?", again I'd say, "no'. But, on game day, with a few pints down me, arriving in the ground, nervous as all hell, finding comfort only in the camaraderie with my mates and fellow fans, etc etc, the German anthem comes on, the boos ring out... f*ck it, yes, if I'm just being honest, I'd probably boo too. I'm a different person at the footie, and I love it. It is the one place in my life where I can just let go of all that steam and just be a bit of a dick. Am I going to go smashing windows and fighting after the game? No, and always no. I just find it sad, that, despite creating the best Wembley atmosphere since '96, it's the booing of the anthems that people are talking about. If I went to say, Poland, and they booed the English anthem, I literally wouldn't give a flying f*ck. Fair play to them
Like I say, I do get it. It's worth you reading a book by Tim Parks called A Season With Verona, where he spends the season following the (slightly rubbish, much like Saints) team with the gialloblu, the hardcore support - and he gets caught up in it all too. I'd just like us to be a bit better when it comes to this part. Nobody else feels the need to do it, I don't think we should.
Verona and their supporters bring back memories of our holiday five years ago going to Riva del Garda stopping over in Verona on our way to Venice. Wandering around Verona 27/6/2016 we stumbled on a Verona footy bar just in time for the Italy 2-0 Spain game, our Graziano Pellè scored late on. Tremendous hospitality, mental fans we struggled to buy a drink and all sorts of delightful Italian snacks were handed round. Excellent holiday recommended itinerary.
Oh I agree totally. I'd rather it didn't happen. I just disagree with Coles insinuating that any fan who does boo, is basically racist, homophobic, and against free school meals.
It's been going on for ages and we're definitely not the only ones who do it. It's happened in every England match so far hasn't it? Including by the Scotland fans but that's not a problem for some reason. The only reason it's big news now all of a sudden is that after Tuesday there was nothing negative to write about England. Fact. British press can't be having all that positivity lark.
Exactly. If the crowd stopped booing, the press would just scrape the barrel to find something else to complain about. It was justified during the days of hooliganism, but now the media basically try to create the scandals because in reality there is nothing that bad taking place. All because it sells papers.
Nah, as I said, I think the only time it happens really *to* us is with the other home nations. Which I kinda get (but doesn't make it right, but at least they're the Pompey to our Saints). I don't think it needs to happen with other countries. Just my opinion though.
I know all about being gracious in defeat, thanks. It's being magnanimous in victory I need practice at.
I've definitely heard it from other nations, normally eastern European. I agree that it's all a bit unnecessary and disrespectful (though Scotland doing to us is no different than us doing it to Germany surely? Each team's biggest rivals) but I think the pearl clutching over it is a bit over the top personally. Classless? Yeah I'd say so. Distasteful? Yep for sure. It means England fans are all racist scumbags? Nah get in the bin (not you). Like I say if we'd have lost two nil we'd have barely heard a peep about it. Has to be something to slate England, just the way it is (And probably always will be).
"Classless? Yeah I'd say so. Distasteful? Yep for sure. It means England fans are all racist scumbags? Nah get in the bin (not you)." Yeah, this is basically my stance on it. I've never liked it.
There is something a bit ugly in the air at the moment. Not just in England, I think it's everywhere in the world right now tbf. The spirit of that Three Lions song, which celebrated a self deferential, good natured patriotism, is in short supply right now. I don't know that I'd feel comfortable hanging a St George's flag from car or living room window this year. And I've done both before without hesitation. On the other hand, bollocks to it; it's coming home....
I have always differentiated being proud and excited by the exploits of the England team but not so by the crass behaviour of some sections of the support which is patently xenophobic. The Football Lads Alliance and the EDL do exist and unfortunately they are inextricably linked to National side but they are the minority and there are a vast majority of normal and decent fans too. I'd love it one day if English football fans were known for their good sportsmanship and good nature like The Scots, Welsh and Irish abroad as well as their passion and after all it is only a sport, we are no longer at war with anybody and not respecting the opposition is not the same as supporting your own team IMO.
I don't really like commenting on this stuff because I can feel the xenophobia towards my mum and my family pulsing through the screen with these matches and the way they are presented. Germans generally like the English and learn to speak English very well, but the English can speak no language other than their own and gradually slide towards arrogant isolationism. But I supported England on the day and I am still proud of the team. I don't like the black German kits because to me it links the side to a dark past. Germany has a problem with the rising right. The world is in a battle between ideologies right now and has lost a middle ground. Basically it is a **** world right now and England are no worse than anyone else.
I speak quite a few different languages, admittedly I'm only fairly fluent in Spanish. I'm 100% English!
