I agree that the anti-English attitude is too much, it grates on me too. Although I can see why many would feel this way, I can see the anger at being berated by some English supporters at our lack of decent sports stars/teams and how their team/stars are better. Even done in a spirit of friendship and banter this still hurts, no matter who says it and to whom. This is no defence of racist attitudes or ideas, hopefully I am better known than that, but rather an additional reason beyond those stated above. As I am fond of saying a “reason” is NOT an “excuse”. Racism in any form is deplorable and needs to be addressed (I know I have walked the line of racism and occasionally faltered but no one is perfect)

Personally I couldn’t care less about any of the World Cup simply because its football, not because England is the only qualifier. I just don’t like football, it seems to reduce people to their base instincts and turns them into luddites, irrespective of which country they belong to. It also seems to generate unnatural amounts of news converge sparked by national pride but twisted into the hideous beats of sensationalist reporting. The World Cup amplifies these feelings as it becomes something more than a bunch of men kicking a pig skin round a grass field for 90 minutes it becomes a metaphor for old rivalries, wars, and old wounds reopened all for the sake of a hideous gold statue.

However, my feelings are slightly different when it comes to the Rugby world cup, a sport I actually enjoy (that being said I still get annoyed at the over sensationalism of the reporting of this event as well), where I will always support Scotland above any other.

Why is this? Is it because I am a racist who supports his home country in an international event? Apparently so, all because I consider myself Scottish, then British (I know that legally I am British first, but this is a matter of the heart), then European, and so on. Although to be honest I truly consider my self “human” first then the rest, for in the end national borders are transitory and only of this world. I have a great pride and love for my homeland, I always will, it is the place I consider home… England, Wales, even Japan… these places are not my home country, only Scotland is and as such I will support my team when they play… actually my support is usually reflected in a slightly elevated interest in the end result rather than obsessed watching of games, going to matches etc… so its probably not really much support to honest.

Just to be clear I don’t subscribe to the “any team but England” rule because if I had the choice I always prefer to support the UK in sports matches but if that is not the case then I will support Scotland, if they are not in the event then my interest fades. Which leads me to my view which is that one solution to this whole problem is to get rid of the England, Scotland, Wales football, rugby etc teams and only have a UK team for if we are meant to be a united kingdom… then why don’t we have a united sport teams. Why are we so different in this world that as a country (the UK that is) that we need three teams to represent us, surely this amplifies the view that we are in fact separate nations, and not united.

I now await the inevitable slaughter.
(puts on blindfold, lights a cigarette and waits as the aim is taken)

Cheers,
Graham