British football fans have been voted the most passionate fans in Europe, according to a new study from UEFA Champions League sponsor Mastercard.
‘The 12th Man’ study explored how far fans will go in support of their team, be that via money spent, distance travelled, or social factors such as sacrificing relationships and when they first saw a game live.
The first question asked which fans do you perceive to be the most passionate, based on positive definitions such as atmosphere created, commitment made and dedication to away support – resulting in a comprehensive victory for British fans, as voted for by their European peers.
Almost one-third (32%) of all respondents listed British fans as the most passionate – ahead of Spanish fans (16%) and Italian fans (12%) who came second and third place respectively. The much-lauded German support finished a surprisingly low fifth place, just behind Turkish fans.
This perception appears well-placed as the report shines a light on the impressive level of social sacrifice undertaken by British football fans to attend football games. The nation’s love for their football team sometimes comes before finding love elsewhere, as 11% of Brits admit that they could not date a supporter of their football team’s rivals – calling it an ‘absolute deal-breaker’ for a prospective relationship.
A further 15% would be willing to give the relationship a go, but expect their footballing differences may cause relationship problems. A more optimistic 25% described dating a supporter of a rival team ‘annoying but manageable’.
Showcasing how far they will go for their beloved team, 1 in 10 UK football fans confessed they would cancel their honeymoon to watch their team play in the UEFA Champions League Final, while 25% admitted to taking unsolicited leave from work and 20% said they’d miss a close friend’s birthday to attend an important game.
British fans are also among the youngest starters, with 36% stating they became fans of their side before they were 10 years old. Within that, 10% stated that they had no choice in who they supported – declaring they were fans ‘from birth’ due to family connection. The average age across Europe for first becoming a fan was calculated at just over 13 years old. Portuguese fans are the youngest starters in Europe – picking their allegiances at just over seven years old.
However, despite being willing to sacrifice relationships for football, British fans are not as willing to put hands in their pockets. When asked what the most amount of money you have ever spent on attending a football match the British average came in at £343 – significantly lower than Turkish (£608), Russian (£553), French (£475), and Spanish (£465) fans.
It was a similar story when asked what’s the longest you have ever travelled to watch a football game with the British fan averaging out at 4hrs 13mins, almost half the time of Polish fans (8hrs 24 mins). Only 31% of Brits have been to support their team abroad – one of the lowest results in the report. When compared with Spanish fans (61%) and Italian fans (56%), it seems that while British support is undoubtedly passionate, it has its price limits.
Beyond telling the story of British passion, the report threw up several more colourful findings, including;
– Dutch fans are the only fans in Europe who prefer to watch their team on the television, rather than in stadia with 41% saying they prefer TV viewing and 23% stating no preference.
– Italian fans have the best ‘home town’ support, with 41% stating they support their home town club – more than any other country in Europe.
– Romanians are considered the biggest glory hunters – with over a quarter (26%) confessing that they support their team due to their success.
– 66% of Ukrainian fans would rather see their team in the UEFA Champions League final than win the lottery.
– Turkish fans win no fans for romance, with one in five confessing that they would cancel their honeymoon for a UEFA Champions League ticket.
Ryan Giggs, Mastercard Ambassador for the UEFA Champions League, commented: “I have been very fortunate to play all over the world during my career, but it comes as no surprise to me that British fans are considered the most passionate. Those European nights were among the best of my life, and the travelling support always played a huge part.”
Ann Cairns, President, International Markets at Mastercard, said: “The Champions League has created so many memorable moments in football, but it’s also the supporters who help create that magic. Our sponsorship of the tournament encapsulates this priceless sporting spirit.”
Source:Sports.Yahoo