Do Brits hate Americans?

[Paul Sousa]

I became a fan of soccer/football a few years ago when I started playing. As I am of Portuguese descent I followed my favorite Portuguese national players to their club teams after WC 2006 and have followed those clubs since then. As a result I have been a fan of Manchester United since that time. Now the reason I ask if Brits hate Americans is because of the apparent hatred Man United fans seem to have for the owners of the club (who are American). As far as I can tell the club has had tremendous success under the current owners, but yet the fans seem to want them out and are very vocal and passionate about their feelings. Other than the owners being American I can't understand why this is. I can understand the similar feeling Liverpool fans have for Gillette and Hicks as the club has gone downhill since they took over, but I can't figure out the reason for the hatred of the Glazers. Any of you English guys have any insight into this?

[Rorschach]

Football is inherantly tribal. I wouldn't sweat it, the more vocal, prejudiced football supporters don't represent the rest of the country. ;-)

[TTT]

most non americans hate americans.. (generalisation obivously)

[Age_of_Aquarius]

You been watching the premier league? Nice win earlier eh.

The hatred is not against America. It's the fact that all these big shot businessmen and companies that keep buying out are commercialising and ruining the whole spirit of the game, yeah might seem like an oxymoron I know.

I agree that it is irrational though esp considering the state utd were in before the takeover.

We wouldn't have been able to afford rooney or berbatov is it hadn't happened.

[Marotta]

You been watching the premier league? Nice win earlier eh.

The hatred is not against America. It's the fact that all these big shot businessmen and companies that keep buying out are commercialising and ruining the whole spirit of the game, yeah might seem like an oxymoron I know.

I agree that it is irrational though esp considering the state utd were in before the takeover.

We wouldn't have been able to afford rooney or berbatov is it hadn't happened.

THE MAN is bringing us down.

[lanky]

Of course they hate us. We kicked their asses twice (1783 and 1812) and saved their asses twice (1918 and 1945).

[Paul Sousa]

Rorschach - I definitely have picked up on that. The situation just confuses me as I am accustomed to sports here in America and I am pretty sure the most die hard fans of teams here would be okay with Bin Laden owning their team if it got them a championship.

AoA - Wait a minute, are we about to get along in a thread??? I love the EPL (I refuse to call it the BPL), best league in the world. I get the fear of commercialism, etc. but I figured winning would trump all of that. I guess I wonder how I would be treated as a Yank if I were to go see a match at Old Trafford. I would love to bring my son to a match in several years, but wonder if there would be any hostility towards us.

[LimieJosh]

It has nothing to do with the Glazers being American, such a conclusion is lazy.

The issue is that investors bought the wealthiest sports club in the world, did so by borrowing massively, and then, after buying up enough shars to remove the company from public listings, transfered the personal debt taken on to fund the stock purchases onto the club. Overnight Utd went from the richest club in the club to about $700 million in debt. Obviously there are a lot of complications with such a situation, and the Glazers didnt give a shit about deflecting any of them.

This all happened in the environment of a growing resentment among fans about how the working man's game had become priced out of their reach.

[Age_of_Aquarius]

Let's see if we can top chelsea sometime soon, and hopefully it may very well end all of that lol :-)

I wouldn't worry too much about feeling out of place at old trafford.
I'm not a very keen football fan, but I have been to old Trafford numerous times when my friends have spare tickets. Even though i'm British (but of south asian origin) i've never run into any sort of hostility, even pre-match at town when there are pissheads around everywhere.

We watch the match then go for a few pints at a local well known pub covered in man utd decor (I think it's called the trafford tavern or something like that). The atmosphere is always great and it's always been a good laugh.

So even though it is a 'common mans game', I can't see you experiencing any animosity, esp since no one really cares about your nationality etc. It's about repping your team.

There will be a few who spoil it, but you find that anywhere really.

[Paul Sousa]

It has nothing to do with the Glazers being American, such a conclusion is lazy.

The issue is that investors bought the wealthiest sports club in the world, did so by borrowing massively, and then, after buying up enough shars to remove the company from public listings, transfered the personal debt taken on to fund the stock purchases onto the club. Overnight Utd went from the richest club in the club to about $700 million in debt. Obviously there are a lot of complications with such a situation, and the Glazers didnt give a shit about deflecting any of them.

This all happened in the environment of a growing resentment among fans about how the working man's game had become priced out of their reach.

So basically rather than the debt belonging to them the debt is attached to the club? Not sure I understand how that happens, but I guess I can see fans having an issue with it. My only question though is if the purchase was solely for business reasons as it seems that claim makes then why have they the money they have to improve the club? Why not pull a Hicks/Gillette and run it into the ground?