42% of Scots would not be happy to support a team that represents the UK as a whole, while many (59%) do not support England and find the media focus on England is inappropriate for a UK-wide broadcasting, recent YouGov research has found.
The World Cup has provided a catalyst for this apparent anti-English sentiment, and 59% of Scots either strongly or slightly agreed with the statement 'I do not identify with the England football team, and thus find that the media focus on England is inappropriate for a UK-wide broadcasting'. Those living in the region of South Scotland (64%) are the most likely to object, with 33% strongly agreeing. Men are also more likely to oppose (61% compared to 57% of women either strongly or slightly agreeing). Anti-English sentiment runs highest in Mid Scotland and Fife, where 40% of Scots say they would support any other team apart from England, compared to 36% of the nation as a whole.
This comes in light of the ‘Anyone but England’ movement, which is gripping Scotland. It first appeared in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, in shops stocking t-shirts, mugs and other memorabilia with the ABE slogan.
The movement has been labelled as a bit of fun and in good humour by Scottish shop owners, and it seems that, in contrast to the ABE supporters, England still has some Scottish force behind it, with 32% of Scots strongly agreeing, or tending to agree, that they would in fact support England in sporting events even though they do not live in the country – perhaps good news for Sunday’s highly anticipated England World Cup match.
