The Brexit referendum thread: potential consequences for GB, EU and the Brits in CH

	Quote:	TonyClifton
	Football fans make up a tiny proportion of the country’s population.

This is the UK you are talking about, right? The same place that gave birth to the quote; “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.”

[fatmanfilms]

	Quote:
	This is the UK you are talking about, right? The same place that gave birth to the quote; “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.”

Just like the assurances you have been giving for months, the majority who really wanted to remain & stupidly voted Tory by mistake

[hairybadger]

Non-Brits are fully entitled to have an opinion on the UK, but why claim to be a Brit when it's obvious that you aren't (or have spent little time in the UK) and then express strong and strident opinions on pretty much everything? Mere trolling? Frightfully dull in any case. The latest tell (and there have been many) is claiming that only a small proportion of the UK population is interested in football. Really? The case could unfortunately be argued for rugby or cricket (my favourites), but *football*? Give us a break.

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	Just like the assurances you have been giving for months, the majority who really wanted to remain & stupidly voted Tory by mistake

Did you quote me by mistake?

[TonyClifton]

Queue the typically boring nitpicking responses. Football fans, of the type singing 10 German Bombers, are a tiny minority. Football fans are a minority when compared to the population as a whole. No point in arguing further, the likes of people questioning this are probably the very same people still struggling to come to terms with Boris Johnson’s massive election victory a few weeks ago.

It also detracts from the point. English nationalism is an imaginary problem that has been created by people who after three and a half years still don’t understand the reasons behind the Brexit vote. Now it is also being used to excuse the real and very sinister form of nationalism that the SNP support.

They can hide behind their claims of civic nationalism which is a complete red herring. It still requires recognition of the nation state and the “them” to contrast with the “us”. It is the politics of devision and therefore there is little difference between those trying to divide Scottish and English people than those that divide on the basis of religion and race. It’s the politics of us and them, it highlights differences rather than similarities. It is narrow minded intolerance and should be fought tooth and nail!

[fatmanfilms]

	Quote:	hairybadger
	Non-Brits are fully entitled to have an opinion on the UK, but why claim to be a Brit when it's obvious that you aren't (or have spent little time in the UK) and then express strong and strident opinions on pretty much everything? Mere trolling? Frightfully dull in any case. The latest tell (and there have been many) is claiming that only a small proportion of the UK population is interested in football. Really? The case could unfortunately be argued for rugby or cricket (my favourites), but *football*? Give us a break.

I have to say I have zero interest in football whatsoever & only hold a UK passport & have lived in the UK

[Ace1]

	Quote:	TonyClifton
	Football fans... are a tiny minority. Football fans are a minority when compared to the population as a whole. No point in arguing further

So can we safely assume that you won't?

	Quote:	TonyClifton
	Queue the typically boring nitpicking responses. Football fans, of the type singing 10 German Bombers, are a tiny minority. Football fans are a minority when compared to the population as a whole. No point in arguing further, the likes of people questioning this are probably the very same people still struggling to come to terms with Boris Johnson’s massive election victory a few weeks ago. It also detracts from the point. English nationalism is an imaginary problem that has been created by people who after three and a half years still don’t understand the reasons behind the Brexit vote. Now it is also being used to excuse the real and very sinister form of nationalism that the SNP support. They can hide behind their claims of civic nationalism which is a complete red herring. It still requires recognition of the nation state and the “them” to contrast with the “us”. It is the politics of devision and therefore there is little difference between those trying to divide Scottish and English people than those that divide on the basis of religion and race. It’s the politics of us and them, it highlights differences rather than similarities. It is narrow minded intolerance and should be fought tooth and nail!

Your apparent ‘tiny minority’ seems to be supporting a booming multi billion pound, constantly growing industry without too much difficulty, eh?

Sorry but you talk utter bollocks, you get called out on it then you double down with even more nonsense.

	Quote:	Jim2007
	Historically it has got everything to do with the Scottish. From the origin of the planters in Ulster who’s descendants today are the force behind Unionism to the atrocities committed by the Scottish regiments during the Anglo Irish war to the treatment Irish seasonal workers, mainly Catholics from NI and Donegal in Scotland in the 50s, 60s and well into 70s... It is called Unionism because it’s about wanting to maintain the Union not about wanting to be English for heavens sake.

I’m afraid you’re a bit out of touch here Jim. Historically, no question but if you think that has anything to do with modern sectarianism you’re off base.

Neither side considers themselves Scottish and would support England or Ireland respectively against Scotland in sports.

And Tony, tiny minority? 70% of the UK population watched at least one premier league game last year, and God knows how many people also go to live games every weekend, in the millions for sure, 80,000 in Manchester alone!

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	TonyClifton
	Football fans make up a tiny proportion of the country’s population.

Football hooligans make up a tiny proportion of the population, football fans are significantly more numerous.
The sales of football kits and paraphernalia, the number of fans on the terraces watching matches each week ( and not only for the major clubs) plus the number of teams etc for kids should give you a clue as to just how popular football is in the UK.

Football is the national sport.

	Quote:	Blueangel
	Just tested myself on the football allegiance of my facebook friends list. Only 5 or 6 that I didn't know out of about 180, but that's because they're rugby players or American. I know the 2nd and 3rd teams of many of my friends such as Lazio, Inter and Olympiakos, and even have an absolutely lovely Wickham Wanderers fan on my list (bless! ). And as for 10 German Bombers...that's an incredibly long way down the list of chants commonly sung at England games.

Do you mean Wycombe wanderers? I have a few of their fans amongst my friends.

Fully agree about 10 German bombers.

This thread has now 1'295 pages.....that's twice the length of War and Peace

[greenmount]

	Quote:
	This thread has now 1'295 pages.....that's twice the length of War and Peace

It has the length of "War and peace" (sort of) but the subject really is "Anna Karenina". UK being Anna.

[John William]

	Quote:
	This thread has now 1'295 pages.....that's twice the length of War and Peace

And there's more to come, so stay tuned viewers.
Who knows Brexit might be joined by a new co-star called ScotExit in the new year, so best to
stay abreast of the latest news.
Yes with Britain's withdrawal from the EU a certainty on January 31st.
I must admit I'll miss those Parliamentary debates on Europe during Britain's membership of the EU.

The famous Spitting Image - Parliamentary debates on Europe

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	TonyClifton
	Queue the typically boring nitpicking responses.

'Cue', as in theatrical cue not shop check-out queue.

	Quote:	TonyClifton
	It also detracts from the point. English nationalism is an imaginary problem that has been created by people who after three and a half years still don’t understand the reasons behind the Brexit vote.

Yeah right! Tell that to my former colleagues who were barricaded inside our office building by police whilst the EDL tried to force their way in one Saturday afternoon. You know nothing. BNP, NF, Column 88, Combat 18, etc... Nah! The UK doesn't have a problem with 'English nationalists' whatsoever, but Liverpool have been great at chasing them out of town before they've even left Lime St station.

	Quote:	Belgianmum
	Do you mean Wycombe wanderers? I have a few of their fans amongst my friends.

Yup! My mistake. I went all Pride & Prejudice there for a moment

	Quote:
	Your apparent ‘tiny minority’ seems to be supporting a booming multi billion pound, constantly growing industry without too much difficulty, eh? Sorry but you talk utter bollocks, you get called out on it then you double down with even more nonsense.

	Quote:	Belgianmum
	Football hooligans make up a tiny proportion of the population, football fans are significantly more numerous. The sales of football kits and paraphernalia, the number of fans on the terraces watching matches each week ( and not only for the major clubs) plus the number of teams etc for kids should give you a clue as to just how popular football is in the UK. Football is the national sport.

This and this.

Hooligans are thankfully a minority but the amount of extra police and security measures on match days are incredible.

Taking our huge local as a microcosm... it was packed, about 300 folk. Easily 80% were focused on the widescreen match.

What, TonyClifton, are you basing your "football isn't popular in the UK" nonsense on? What do you understand, and use, the term "English Nationalism" to mean?

	Quote:	TonyClifton
	Queue the typically boring nitpicking responses.

Sorry, but you asked for that one.

[marton]

Farage was not in the New Years Honours list; so no Lordship for sabotaging his own party.

[fatmanfilms]

	Quote:
	And Tony, tiny minority? 70% of the UK population watched at least one premier league game last year, and God knows how many people also go to live games every weekend, in the millions for sure, 80,000 in Manchester alone!

More than that watch the BBC News at least once a year, does not make them a fan of news or the BBC. I don't believe 50.1% of the population watch a match every week of the season, just as a minority of the population who expressed a preference wished to stay in the EU.

[fatmanfilms]

John Bercow left off New Years honours list https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...y-revenge.html

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	More than that watch the BBC News at least once a year, does not make them a fan of news or the BBC. I don't believe 50.1% of the population watch a match every week of the season, just as a minority of the population who expressed a preference wished to stay in the EU.

Subtlety eluding you again? Few too many glasses of sherry?

The quote wasn’t minority (less than 50% of people are football fans as men make up slightly less than 50% of the population and some of them are gays - ho ho, just kidding) but a tiny minority.

More British people attend football every week than speak Welsh and Gaelic combined, for example.