A survey of 2,000 sports fans has revealed the most common inappropriate places where they secretly check scores, with weddings, cinemas, and dates topping the list. More than a quarter admitted to discreetly watching a match in an unsuitable setting, and 17% confessed to doing so while on a date.
The workplace remains the top location for covert viewing, with 48% of fans setting up a second screen at work. However, 30% have checked their phones in a supermarket, 29% during a family dinner, and 25% have risked watching a game during wedding speeches. Others have watched at another sporting fixture (22%) or in a cinema (included in the broader category).
The research, commissioned by Motorola, found that 86% of fans say staying connected to their team is important, and a quarter have changed or cancelled social plans to watch a game. Four in ten said they struggle to concentrate on anything else when unable to watch a live match.
Football is the most streamed sport on mobile, with 62% of fans claiming nothing would stop them watching their team in a final. As the World Cup approaches, 35% admit the tournament will take priority over work and social commitments. Wilkin Lee, a Motorola spokesperson, said: “This highlights just how far fans will go to stay connected to the action, even if the timing couldn’t be worse.”
