Is it wrong to support your national sports team?

[bellyscratch]

This is something I've been thinking for a while. I always feel guilty in a way about supporting my national sports teams (especially being from such an imperialist country). It seems to me that national sports teams are a way to install national pride and patriotism into the citizens of that nation. But when I'm watching sport (mainly rugby) I do want England (or Britain) to win.

As an international socialist, is this something that is acceptable?

[Killfacer]

I support England. Supporting your country is great fun in competetions. I don't see a problem with it as long as it's never done too seriously.

[RedAnarchist]

It's only like supporting your hometown team, although the players are restricted to being from one nationality. Many people actually support more than one national team - I like Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland as well as England.

[AlMack]

No man its sport
You obviously dont turn it into some jingoistic thing so why worry

[Module]

Nothing wrong with supporting your national sports team. In my opinion nothing wrong with being a bit 'patriotic' generally. Support the people, not the state.
I love some countries, because of the culture, and the history etc. but I'm still anti-capitalist. That's what matters, is it not? It's only natural for some people to develop a deep appreciation for some country or another - the society, culture and history that is, and also perhaps strong feelings for the future!

[Devrim]

I don't know why people get so excited about it really. It was understandable when I was a child and a live football match on TV was a rare and important thing.

Nowadays though I see international football as some third rate rubbish that interrupts the league season, often at vital points. It certainly has nowhere near the quality of the Champions League.

Devrim

[Chicano Shamrock]

It's completely wrong to support your National team. Stop being so racist!

[Marion]

Speaking as someone whose team is currently so bad that none of them would get anywhere near playing for any international team (not joking), I'm in two minds about international matches. On the one hand I don't really give a toss about my international side beyond finding it mildly amusing when they lose. One the other, I've enjoyed attending major international competitions for two reasons - firstly, to get away from the ridiculous hype regarding the England team that permeates the media in the UK and, secondly, because its actually damn good fun. Whereas big club games are one-offs, a major international tournament has a whole different atmosphere and you get to meet loads of people from all around the world and share a beer (or two).

[Redmau5]

I take great pleasure in watching my "national" team (Northern Ireland) get beaten.

[Killfacer]

I take great pleasure in watching my "national" team (Northern Ireland) get beaten.

Unless they play England then you can enjoy watching your national team win.

[Jazzratt]

Is it wrong to support your local team?

[mykittyhasaboner]

I don't know why people get so excited about it really. It was understandable when I was a child and a live football match on TV was a rare and important thing.

Nowadays though I see international football as some third rate rubbish that interrupts the league season, often at vital points. It certainly has nowhere near the quality of the Champions League.

Devrim

This.

[al8]

What about standing in honor of the national flag that happens so often during sporting events? I myself sternly sat down last time that happened. All I could think of was "workers have no country" "class against class" etc.

[mykittyhasaboner]

^^I never stand up for the American national anthem before any event, ever. You made a good decision.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

England is the only football team I support.

[Wanted Man]

I don't really care either way. It may be "wrong" to support the national team because it represents a nation. But then maybe people should also stop supporting the major club teams, who have massive monetary interests and who often participate in the trafficking of children from Latin America and Africa, just to make sure they don't miss any major talents...

Just support the football team that you want, but don't pretend that anything is more or less ethical.

[Jazzratt]

England is the only football team I support.

Well no one can accuse you of being a glory hunter :lol:

[Redmau5]

Unless they play England then you can enjoy watching your national team win.

I'd actually rather see the English team win, because I won't have to hear about it over and over.

[Chicano Shamrock]

I'd actually rather see the English team win, because I won't have to hear about it over and over.
Either way your kingdom wins right? :rolleyes:


^^I never stand up for the American national anthem before any event, ever. You made a good decision.
I usually sit for the anthem at non international games. When there is an international game I will stand and sing it with everyone else just so the other team knows whose house they are in.

[redSHARP]

are you claiming superiority over another country? are you causing violence in the name of your country?- if no, then you are good to go!

[Killfacer]

are you claiming superiority over another country?

In footballing terms yes.

[K.Bullstreet]

I'll keep it short - no!

Slightly O/T, I'm going to get the new England shirt soon, looks mint! :thumbup1:

[Mansfield Red]

I used to support England quite avidly, but I find myself less and less interested now. I'm actually watching England vs Andorra as we speak, but I'm just not interested. Sometimes I feel guilty when I wish England well, as I always feel like I'm standing alongside wankers from the BNP.

I just stick with Nottingham Forest now, I support them with all my heart and soul, there's not much room for England.

[Tower of Bebel]

In my case it totally is.

[gorillafuck]

^^I never stand up for the American national anthem before any event, ever. You made a good decision.
I stand so I'm also not noticeably sitting down while everyone else is up.

[Mansfield Red]

At least your national anthem is about a flag and your actual country. Ours is about one of our inbred overlords sat in her Palace, no doubt doing something of MASSIVE importance. She's just a relic of a dying past.

[GracchusBabeuf]

I try to support other nations' teams instead of my own national teams. I used to religiously support my national team before. Now that I don't and I support other national teams (especially the underdog teams), I find it a welcome change as I'm able to see my friends getting all angry and huffy over some nation's performance unlike me.:lol:

[More Fire for the People]

You should support the team you like... which is somewhat easy for an American to say because we have New Yorkers who like the Cowboys and Texans who like the Raiders. There's a weird connection between sports--particularly soccer--and repugnant ethnocentrism in Europe.

[Bandito]

I support various national teams.
Depends on the way they are playing, is it with heart, do I like the players etc...
Sometimes it is the national team of the country I'm living in, sometimes not. For example, I used to support Sweden in World Cup in Italy, than I liked my national team because of the players such were Stojkovic, Savicevic and Milosevic. After that, they became shitty and didn't play with heart, just a bunch of clowns. So I supported Nigeria (Okocha was the main reason) and Netherlands.
Now I like the way Serbia is playing, but if they played England, Cote d' Ivoire or Netherlands, those three would be my favourites.

[Trystan]

I don't think it's wrong of me to support Wales at football. Bloody embarrassing, but it is not a moral failing.

But many "fans" take it much, much too far and it turns into what I think Orwell called "orgies of hatred". When I saw Wales play England in a world cup qualifier (in 2005, I think) the atmosphere in the stadium was just downright nasty. There were these two fans a few rows in front of me and they spent most of the game gesturing at the England fans, their faces reddening with every passing second. There were a few England fans in the Welsh seats - and if they had been sitting a little bit closer to these two, it would have turned violent for sure. It wasn't a very nice experience.