A recent study has revealed that more than a fifth of football enthusiasts would never consider dating someone who supports a rival team. The survey of 2,000 football fans found that 38% always ask a potential partner which club they support early in the dating process.
Key findings from the study
Almost four in 10 (36%) do this to determine if it's a dealbreaker, while 23% ask due to concerns about what their friends or family might think. The research was commissioned by dating app happn, which has partnered with the Prince of Peckham pub to offer free drinks to anyone on a date during halftime of the first England match on 17th June.
Expert insights
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."
Sources of disputes
Match results (19%), refereeing decisions (17%), and games taking precedence over social events (16%) were identified as the main sources of disputes between couples supporting different teams. If they manage to get past the initial stages, 22% have quarrelled over which team their future children will support.
App data and gender differences
This fixation with 'finding a teammate' is mirrored in happn's own app data, which shows football as the second most frequently listed hobby on UK profiles. The findings from OnePoll.com also disclosed that women (15%) are more likely to ask their date which football team they support than men (11%). Among these, six in 10 women do this to ensure they share similar interests, while 41% of men do it to avoid a potential dealbreaker if they don't 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."
