Why do people "hate" football (soccer)?

[HawkMongrel]

I cannot seem to get my head around this issue.

Just about every time I read the Herald Scum's football articles I see many people jumping in with comments about the sport as a whole that usually go along these lines:

"soccer is boring, I hate it"
"soccer doesn't belong here, it's a foreign sport"
"you shouldn't support foreign sport, you should support your local sports"

I want to throw up every time I see this sort of shit, and I see it everywhere. Not just on forums and the Internet but in general around Australia there's a lot of this sort of crap. Heaven forbid they came to grips with the fact that the sport was invented by the English just like Cricket and Rugby....

Why?

What exactly is it that the sport did to offend you so much that you need to despise it and wish that it would die? In my opinion there are two kinds of people:

1) The people that simply dislike the sport, don't watch it, don't care for it and don't involve themselves in anything negative about it. It's not their concern but they don't wish anything bad upon the sport.

2) The people that genuinely hate the sport, wait for it to screw up, wish it would shut down, constantly bombard newspapers and internet forums with negative commentary.

Would it be fair to say that the second group would be made up of a large majority of racists/fascists that still view the sport as "wogball" and don't want it in this country in the same way they want Australia to be free of immigrants? Am I wrong to think this? Am I way off?

It just feels that it cannot be that somebody simply despises a sport and wants it to suffer so much without there being a secondary reason to the hatred.

Opinions?

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Ignorance, it is that simple.

 

[peternorth]

"soccer is boring, I hate it"
"soccer doesn't belong here, it's a foreign sport"
"you shouldn't support foreign sport, you should support your local sports"

I want to throw up every time I see this sort of shit, and I see it everywhere. Not just on forums and the Internet but in general around Australia there's a lot of this sort of crap. Heaven forbid they came to grips with the fact that the sport was invented by the English just like Cricket and Rugby....

its ok to find a certain sport boring. fact of life.

foreign argument - i too find that strange and agree with you in that it was "invented" by the english.

wogball. i guess that it was seen as that commonly europeans were playing it. besides, its harder to spot an english/irishman. bet those who call it wogball wouldnt say it to a geezer like vinny jones.

 

[Del35196]

No one in Aus care thats a fact, and those few that do, only care about overseas soccer. If it was so good people here would go, which by looking at the news highlights, if your in the 4000 that do go then well done

 

[Munga]

My issue is why is it ALWAYS and ONLY soccer that gets put down. You never see bogans making rubbish comments on other sport's articles like netball, motorsport, horse racing....I'd rather watch paint dry, but I'm not going to seek out articles and bag those sports!

They are guarenteed dumb people that need to get a life.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

No one in Aus care thats a fact, and those few that do, only care about overseas soccer. If it was so good people here would go, which by looking at the news highlights, if your in the 4000 that do go then well done

You know that's not true but nice try.

This thread will need more BarkleyStEnd if it's to go past 3 pages and 2 red cards.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

My issue is why is it ALWAYS and ONLY soccer that gets put down. You never see bogans making rubbish comments on other sport's articles like netball, motorsport, horse racing....I'd rather watch paint dry, but I'm not going to seek out articles and bag those sports!

They are guaranteed dumb people that need to get a life.

That's because bogan daughters play netball, bogan dads watch motorsport and go to the TAB to bet on horseracing. Seeing as we're going to be ignorant comments like 'no one follows Soccer, fact' we may as well pigeonhole the arseclowns that bag the sport.

 

[HawkMongrel]

its ok to find a certain sport boring. fact of life.

foreign argument - i too find that strange and agree with you in that it was "invented" by the english.

wogball. i guess that it was seen as that commonly europeans were playing it. besides, its harder to spot an english/irishman. bet those who call it wogball wouldnt say it to a geezer like vinny jones.

See, I have no issue with somebody finding the sport boring. That's their opinion and they're entitled to it.

I find Cricket and Rugby boring, but I certainly don't HATE the sports. I watch them every now and again when there's something that captures my imagination (usually betting lol) but I don't have anything against them.

I find that the anti-sokkah brigade really are "ANTI" in that they hate it rather than just don't care for it.

 

[HawkMongrel]

My issue is why is it ALWAYS and ONLY soccer that gets put down. You never see bogans making rubbish comments on other sport's articles like netball, motorsport, horse racing....I'd rather watch paint dry, but I'm not going to seek out articles and bag those sports!

They are guarenteed dumb people that need to get a life.

This is what I'm getting at. What drives the hatred of a sport rather than simply just not liking it?

 

[HawkMongrel]

No one in Aus care thats a fact, and those few that do, only care about overseas soccer. If it was so good people here would go, which by looking at the news highlights, if your in the 4000 that do go then well done

Troll or are you being legit?

I support a club that has an average crowd attendance of no less than 14,000 people show up each week, and that was in the first season of the league. Since then the crowds have rocketed up with only last season (due to the stupidity of the club itself removing general admin tickets at their new stadium) going below 20,000.

So my question to you is this: what's up your arse?

 

[ErnieSigley]

Jealously. The afl wish they were a world sport.

 

[OzBomber]

My issue is why is it ALWAYS and ONLY soccer that gets put down. You never see bogans making rubbish comments on other sport's articles like netball, motorsport, horse racing....I'd rather watch paint dry, but I'm not going to seek out articles and bag those sports!

They are guarenteed dumb people that need to get a life.

Really? Nearly EVERYONE ignorantly bags motor racing. Have you seen the amount of hate that the GP gets? It is beyond ridiculous.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=880876

As for soccer/football, people don't have the patience to put up with 0-0 draws and games having periods where there are no shots on goal, it's as simple as that.

 

[Boro]

Jealously. The afl wish they were a world sport.

This is just my opinion but i don't think it's jealousy...more fear and ignorance...We've basically had 100 years of those in charge of the media trying to stifle the game. First it was a working class game and the guys sent to Australia to run everything were more the Rugger and cricket types, then it was a wogs game played by sissy's, then during the 80's everyone that played or watched it was a hooligan. It's very very slowly being turned around thanks largely imo to the internet and the general globalisation across the World. Those that still feel the need to spew out anti football stuff are generally just those who've believed everything the media have fed them over the years or have parents who've rammed those beliefs down their throats imho...

 

[ErnieSigley]

Agree on fear. 'Sleeping giant' gets used a bit.

 

[peternorth]

Really? Nearly EVERYONE ignorantly bags motor racing. Have you seen the amount of hate that the GP gets? It is beyond ridiculous.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=880876

As for soccer/football, people don't have the patience to put up with 0-0 draws and games having periods where there are no shots on goal, it's as simple as that.

the OP of that thread posted similar thoughts in the SEN thread.

motorsport itself has arguments within itself. i have mates who love V8s and hate F1 cause its for "rich" people. wat.

 

[Puddy]

Agree on fear. 'Sleeping giant' gets used a bit.

Sadly for soccer a more suitable term is 'dying on life support'. I think one of the main problems for Australian Soccer is arrogance. There is support there but only for teams in major cities (Melbourne,Sydney ect.) Gold Coast will not last (despite good results on-field). If the quality of the soccer continues to improve crowds will hopefully increase.

 

[BlueBen]

Soccer is not in our blood in the way that sports like AFL and cricket are. It's not "ours", we (in the general sense) have no inherent predilection for soccer in the way that many other countries around the world do and in the way that we do for sports like AFL.

 

[Seriously]

inb4Pudd.... Damn it too late

 

[Zidane98]

Soccer is not in our blood in the way that sports like AFL and cricket are. It's not "ours", we (in the general sense) have no inherent predilection for soccer in the way that many other countries around the world do and in the way that we do for sports like AFL.

We owe our heritage to our British friends, football is and will always be a part of Australian folklore. Aussie Rules isn't a nation unifying sport, it is only important to Victorians, Tasmanians, South Australians and Western Australians. Football, Cricket and Tennis are relevant to all of us.

The only sport that has really been "ours" from day one (and responsible for the birth of Australian Rules) is Cricket.

 

[Zidane98]

Sadly for soccer a more suitable term is 'dying on life support'. I think one of the main problems for Australian Soccer is arrogance. There is support there but only for teams in major cities (Melbourne,Sydney ect.) Gold Coast will not last (despite good results on-field). If the quality of the soccer continues to improve crowds will hopefully increase.

Sorry I forgot, how much debt is your club in and what sort of crowds did it get last season?

 

[Del35196]

Troll or are you being legit?

I support a club that has an average crowd attendance of no less than 14,000 people show up each week, and that was in the first season of the league. Since then the crowds have rocketed up with only last season (due to the stupidity of the club itself removing general admin tickets at their new stadium) going below 20,000.

So my question to you is this: what's up your arse?

Gee well done, 14, 000, so next year you'll be up there with north melb and port adelaide

 

[BlueBen]

We owe our heritage to our British friends, football is and will always be a part of Australian folklore. Aussie Rules isn't a nation unifying sport, it is only important to Victorians, Tasmanians, South Australians and Western Australians. Football, Cricket and Tennis are relevant to all of us.

The only sport that has really been "ours" from day one (and responsible for the birth of Australian Rules) is Cricket.

Australian Rules is our national game though, a game unique to our country and a game on which millions of Australians are brought up. It's in millions of Australian peoples' blood - it is second nature for us to wake up every weekend during the season and go to the footy, buy memberships for our teams and support our clubs financially. It dominates discussion at pubs, workplaces etc. Australians are crazy about AFL; some people would literally put themselves in harm's way for their club. Sure, not every Australian person in every state would identify themselves as interested in AFL, but on the whole, AFL is inherently "Australian" - it is our national game and forms part of the Australian psyche.

Soccer does not enjoy this level of embedment within the Australian person's subconscious. Despite its British origins (and Britain's historical relationship with Australia), soccer is seen by many Australians as a "foreign" game; not as a natural British hand-me-down but as an embodiment of the infiltration into Australia of more "distant" cultures (e.g. Eastern European and South American). Consequently, many Australians can't identify with soccer, as they don't feel that any connection exists between themselves and the sport; to them, it is not "theirs". It's not so much racism as it is apathy.

 

[Dimenhydrinate]

Gee well done, 14, 000, so next year you'll be up there with north melb and port adelaide

Except our clubs have only existed for seven years. North has been around for what, 120 years, and still can't draw a crowd.

Besides, we don't need crowds like AFL clubs do. Soccer uses sponsorship and transfer fees to make money. If a soccer club drops 5k on it's average attendance, it's a shame, but no biggie. If an AFL club drops 5k, it becomes insolvent.

Australian Rules is our national game though

Tell that to Queensland and NSW.

 

[Del35196]

Except our clubs have only existed for seven years. North has been around for what, 120 years, and still can't draw a crowd.

Besides, we don't need crowds like AFL clubs do. Soccer uses sponsorship and transfer fees to make money. If a soccer club drops 5k on it's average attendance, it's a shame, but no biggie. If an AFL club drops 5k, it becomes insolvent.



Tell that to Queensland and NSW.

You mean Brisbane Lions and Sydney? who have who have won 4 of the last 11 Premierships? Fair to say its a national game by now.

 

[Zidane98]

Australian Rules is our national game though, a game unique to our country and a game on which millions of Australians are brought up. It's in millions of Australian peoples' blood - it is second nature for us to wake up every weekend during the season and go to the footy, buy memberships for our teams and support our clubs financially. It dominates discussion at pubs, workplaces etc. Australians are crazy about AFL; some people would literally put themselves in harm's way for their club. Sure, not every Australian person in every state would identify themselves as interested in AFL, but on the whole, AFL is inherently "Australian" - it is our national game and forms part of the Australian psyche.

Soccer does not enjoy this level of embedment within the Australian person's subconscious. Despite its British origins (and Britain's historical relationship with Australia), soccer is seen by many Australians as a "foreign" game; not as a natural British hand-me-down but as an embodiment of the infiltration into Australia of more "distant" cultures (e.g. Eastern European and South American). Consequently, many Australians can't identify with soccer, as they don't feel that any connection exists between themselves and the sport; to them, it is not "theirs". It's not so much racism as it is apathy.

AFL isn't inherently Australian, it is a sport that is the domain of the south western half of our country. That's only half of the country. When you are getting only a handful of people watching the AFL Grand Final in Australia's biggest televesion market you know that it isn't a truly national sport. There are many pubs in Sydney that refuse to screen the sport full stop.

AFL is second nature in Victoria, but that's about it. A national sport it is not.

Many Australians have a historical connection to the EPL, we all follow either Man U/Liverpool/Chelsea/Arsenal/Man City/Tottenham, the EPL on foxtel is huge. Some EPL games in prime time even outrate AFL games. It proves your comment that Aussies see football as a non-British "foreign" sport as ridiculous - if that was truly the case then the EPL wouldn't be so wildly popular here.

The arrogance of footy fans who think that Aussie Rules is more of a national sport and more culturally important to our nation as a whole then our oldest sport cricket defies belief. Cricket is Australia's true national sport and Aussie Rules will never come close to it.