Loyal football fans refuse to date someone who supports a rival team, according to a new poll. More than a fifth of football fans would not date someone who supported a rival team. The survey of 2,000 football fans found that 38% will always ask a potential date what club they support in the very early stages of dating.
Deal-breaker for many
Nearly four in 10 (36%) do this to decide if it is a deal-breaker, while 23% ask because of what their friends or family might think. The research was commissioned by real-life dating app happn, which has partnered with the Prince of Peckham pub to give away free drinks to anyone on a date during half-time of the first England match on 17th June.
Dating expert's insight
Claire Rénier, dating expert at happn, said: "For UK singles, football isn't just entertainment, it's a compatibility blueprint. Our research shows that team loyalty is a definitive dealbreaker for many, with fans looking for a true teammate rather than a romantic rival."
Causes of arguments
Match results (19%), refereeing decisions (17%), and games taking priority over social events (16%) were found to be the biggest causes of arguments between couples supporting different teams. If they do manage to move past the initial stages, 22% have argued about who their future children will support.
App data reflects trend
This obsession with 'finding a teammate' is reflected in happn's own app data, which has revealed football as the second most commonly listed hobby on UK profiles. The OnePoll.com findings also revealed that women (15%) are more likely to ask what team the other person supports on a first date than men (11%). Of these, six in 10 females do this to check they have similar interests, whereas 41% of males do it to avoid a deal-breaker if they do not support the same team.
Rénier added: "With the summer of sport building excitement, we want to help singles turn match-day energy into real-life connections, which is why we're so excited to partner with the Prince of Peckham to bring daters together this summer."
