Leaving early at a football match - Yay or Nay?

Daysha · 02-01-2008 12:33PM #1

What do you think? Should all ticket buyers have the responsibility to support their team through the whole 90 mins or do you think they have the right to make a stand by leaving early?

I guess it matters what type of match it is. The ones that really irk me are when the big clubs like Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal fans etc leave early when their winning just so they can beat the traffic. Have you ever seen the north stand at Old Trafford in the final few minutes of a match :eek:

If Im being honest, I don't like fans leaving early if their team is getting destroyed either. You go to a match as a supporter of a club, and every club has good games and bad. But leaving early doesn't help the matter. Stick it out and follow your team regardless.

Opinions?

DerekD Goldfish · 02-01-2008 12:39PM

dont think ive ever left before the final whistle
I have left without staying to chear the team off if I feel they haven't deserved it

Mitch Connor · 02-01-2008 12:46PM

deise59 wrote: »

What do you think? Should all ticket buyers have the responsibility to support their team through the whole 90 mins or do you think they have the right to make a stand by leaving early?

I guess it matters what type of match it is. The ones that really irk me are when the big clubs like Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal fans etc leave early when their winning just so they can beat the traffic. Have you ever seen the north stand at Old Trafford in the final few minutes of a match :eek:

If Im being honest, I don't like fans leaving early if their team is getting destroyed either. You go to a match as a supporter of a club, and every club has good games and bad. But leaving early doesn't help the matter. Stick it out and follow your team regardless.

Opinions?

You buy a ticket so that you can go see the match, not so you HAVE to.

If you are not enjoying the specticle that is being put on, if you are annoyed/angry witht he performance or just plain bored, why should you feel obliged to stay and sit through even more crap?

Personally I dno't like leaving games early, and certainly wouldn't leave a United game early but so what if other people do? They have paid their money and it is their choice. IMO there is no obligation to stay. I'd prefer people to stay, and for them to cheer loudly, but i can't make them, and wouldn't want to if i could.

shane86 · 02-01-2008 12:50PM

Tauren wrote: »

You buy a ticket so that you can go see the match, not so you HAVE to.

If you are not enjoying the specticle that is being put on, if you are annoyed/angry witht he performance or just plain bored, why should you feel obliged to stay and sit through even more crap?

Personally I dno't like leaving games early, and certainly wouldn't leave a United game early but so what if other people do? They have paid their money and it is their choice. IMO there is no obligation to stay. I'd prefer people to stay, and for them to cheer loudly, but i can't make them, and wouldn't want to if i could.

But I think his point is also, in regards to the likes of United, fairweather fans are just turning up, seeing Ronaldo and Rooney put a comfortable margin against the likes of Derby and then leave by 75 mins as it is "safe" to do so i.e. barring some miracle Derby will not come back from 3-0 down. Therefore they cant blame the performance- they came, they saw the goals (about all some of these crowd are interested in) and then went home. I doubt many people leave early if its, lets say, Chelsea 2 Man U 1 on the 80th, as the game has the potential to go either way.

I can, however, understand people running out of the Cyprus game, especially since qualification was lost at the time. But generally its a no for me.

ciaran76 · 02-01-2008 12:50PM

Once I nearly did it. It was an Everton v Chartlon game last season and Everton went 1 up in the 82 min or so. Then right at the death Bent scored for Charlton I reckon it was the 90th min. or so.
After their goal celebrations and alot of angry Everton fans leaving around me I decided I might aswell go aswell as this was just tripe.

I sat down for 1 min and then said fcuk it I might aswell stay as I will not get far as most people are leaving. Anyway Luckily for me McFadden went and scored in the 92nd or 93rd min to make it 2-1 and most people I met after the game had not seen the 2nd goal.

prendy · 02-01-2008 12:54PM

i remember Henry had a rant last season bout this.
i dont ever leave games early but it is up to the person who bought the ticket.as an earlier post said if your not enjoying it then its your right to leave.

DerekD Goldfish · 02-01-2008 12:57PM

prendy wrote: »

i remember Henry had a rant last season bout this.
i dont ever leave games early but it is up to the person who bought the ticket.as an earlier post said if your not enjoying it then its your right to leave.

Since when is going to a game about enjoyment?

prendy · 02-01-2008 12:58PM

since always..if i didnt enjoy football i wouldnt go!

KdjaCL · 02-01-2008 01:01PM

oh crap its customer vs fan again

kdjac

AARRRGH · 02-01-2008 01:04PM

deise59 wrote: »

Should all ticket buyers have the responsibility to support their team through the whole 90 mins or do you think they have the right to make a stand by leaving early?

They have a right to leave early. It's a free world, so after paying [a lot of money] for a ticket you can come and go whenever you please.

The players should be professional enough to do their job whether the stadium is full, half full, or empty.

Fratton Fred · 02-01-2008 01:15PM

I have left a game early once, it was a relegation battle between pompey and Palace at the foot of the old first division. Pompey were crap despite the fact three points would have meant safety. 5 minutes to go and Palace went 4-1 up. I had to leave, I couldn't stand watching anymore.

It was a case of voting with my feet, our "Star" players (one Lee Mills in particular) were awful and didn't deserve the passion the Pompey fans had shown. We survived on the last day, but that game stays with me as a particular low point in watching pompey.

A lot of fans were leaving with 5 minutes to go against Boro on Saturday, but I stayed and watched to the end, although we could still be playing wouldn't have scored we were that bad.

In principal I would say fans should stay to the end, but sometimes things are so bad you have to leave. The question arises over what is bad.

Mitch Connor · 02-01-2008 01:36PM

KdjaCL wrote: »

oh crap its customer vs fan again

kdjac

unless 'fans' were not forced to pay, then you have to class them as a customer, as that is how the club sees them.

sprinkles · 02-01-2008 01:40PM

course people have th right to leave early. Your ticket isn't a contract. That said I would never leave before the final wistle - I go to support the team first and be entertained second. I've sat through some pretty rubbish football matches in my time.

jameshayes · 02-01-2008 01:41PM

I dont think i have ever left early in a match. I think it's terrible.

_blank_ · 02-01-2008 01:42PM

Only **** leave games early imo.

Support your team to the final whistle.

Killme00 · 02-01-2008 01:43PM

I have never left a match early that i have paid into. A few years ago when Tyrone were destroying Dublin in Croke Park, i stayed despite my disgust at Dublins ineptitude. Thousands left that day and Dessie farrell scored a late goal, it was funny to watch the fools rush back in. We still lost.

I have left martial arts event early once. The tickets cost something like 45 euro and it was called Bushido Rings or something like that in the point depot, god was it crap.

shane86 · 02-01-2008 01:46PM

Remember a documentary on sky about the 2005 CL final, some lad interviewed was saying he said sod this, had left at half time to go drinking. On the taxi into town they heard what was unfolding, tried getting back in time, stuck in traffic for the whole thing.

**** him tbh.

And as for that ultimate fighting or whatever they hold in the point, :rolleyes: x 20 million. Its a very short step up from WWF.

Killme00 · 02-01-2008 02:05PM

shane86 wrote: »

And as for that ultimate fighting or whatever they hold in the point, :rolleyes: x 20 million. Its a very short step up from WWF.

World Wildlife Foundation?? :rolleyes:

KdjaCL · 02-01-2008 02:06PM

Tauren wrote: »

unless 'fans' were not forced to pay, then you have to class them as a customer, as that is how the club sees them.

Someone who goes to a football match to be entertained is a customer, someone who goes even tho he knows his team are ****e, are going to lose badly and stays till the end is a fan.

Ferguson ranting about 75 thousand of them in Old Traford yesterday in todays papers.

kdjac

therecklessone · 02-01-2008 02:15PM

Have left a few games early, mostly because I need to catch a train or bus or else I'm overnighting in London. Went to ManYoo-Benfica last season with my brother for his birthday, we left at 85mins because we had to catch a taxi back to the airport. Just made our flight, glad we left when we did.

Left one game in disgust, 3-0 down to Utd back in February last year (finished 4-0) as I just couldn't watch the cnuts anymore.

Considered leaving at 4-1 down to Villa this season but decided to stick around to boo the bastards off...:D

I hate giving the opposition's fans ammunition to throw at us by leaving a load of empty seats for them to take the piss over.

Mitch Connor · 02-01-2008 02:15PM

KdjaCL wrote: »

Someone who goes to a football match to be entertained is a customer, someone who goes even tho he knows his team are ****e, are going to lose badly and stays till the end is a fan.

Ferguson ranting about 75 thousand of them in Old Traford yesterday in todays papers.

kdjac

Rubbish.

First off, i'd make a distinction between fans and supporters.

Secondly - when I go to a football match I go to be entertained. I love football as smuch as anyone, but if every game I went to or watched on TV, what would be the point in watching it at all? How can you derive enjoyment from something you find dul, irritating, annoying or boring.

The level of entertainment is debatable, what entertains you is debatable, but i think you are talking crap if you say entertainment is not part of the reason customers/fans/supporters go to football games.

And on another note - if the 11 players you have payed good and HARD EARNED money to see play can not muster the passion needed to even compete in a game or put up a fight, why the hell should you show them support? We ahve all seen teams just give up on games and put in no effort for the final 10 minutes - why should you support that? What about the fans who paid a lot of money to travel to the World Cup (Italia 90 I think) where the two teams played out a draw because it suited that and didn't mount any sort of attack in the second half - why should people who paid a lot of hard earned cash to support those players and teams?

What about the recent shambolic and passionless Irish performances? Why should the majority of the players, who played crap and showed no passion, commitment or ability be supported?

Teams should have to earn the support given to them - it shouldn't be something they can take for granted.

A Dub in Glasgo · 02-01-2008 02:27PM

You will probably find that most of those who complain about people leaving early are the ones sitting from the comfort of their armchair or computer seat.

I have gone to hundreds of live games and I have left early about 4 times. I have no objection to people leaving early as long as they do not block my view of the game

shane86 · 02-01-2008 02:29PM

KdjaCL wrote: »

Someone who goes to a football match to be entertained is a customer, someone who goes even tho he knows his team are ****e, are going to lose badly and stays till the end is a fan.

Indeed. I might pay to see Real v Barca purely for entertainment value. With Ireland I hate a crap win like the first Wales game or San Marino, but it is a win nonetheless.

You have to admire San Marino folks who actually turn up for home games, although in truth its probably more to see some of Europes major players than anything. I wonder is there any lone nut who travels to all the away games? (maybe Im imagining this but wasnt there a half dozen in Landsdowne?). Still, wonder how much away support they would send to Rome if they drew Italy in a group.

Davidth88 · 02-01-2008 02:33PM

I was only tempted once.

Chelsea were losing to the Scouse in the cup in 97. I went down under the MH stand at half time , had a pint , thought ' shall I go to the pub '.... thought no Ill give the second half 10 mins..... glad I did Mark Hughes came on and as they say ' the rest is history '

I have seen Chelsea lose 6-0 ( Rotherham ), but still stuck it out.

Not sure why I was tempted to leave at half time it the Liverpool game , it could have been because I was sitting on my own and I was so pi**ed off at the performance .

In the old days of The Shed I used to move right over to the ' Tea Bar ' in the last 10-15 mins for a quick exit .

As they say in the song ' We can see you sneaking out ' .

Daysha · 02-01-2008 02:56PM

I don't dispute the fact that everyone has a right to leave when they want. I do feel however that if you buy a ticket you have a responsibility to stay up until the final whistle, regardless of performance. It says a lot about peoples attitude as a fan when they only cheer when they win and then head home when the going gets tough.

I was only seriously tempted once, although it wasn't a soccer match. It was the Waterford Limerick AI semi final back in August. I was positive throughout the match that we would eventually come back and beat them but when they got their 5th goal in injury time, it finally struck me that it was over for another year. I left my seat but watched the final few minutes from one of exits.

Mitch Connor · 02-01-2008 03:02PM

deise59 wrote: »

It says a lot about peoples attitude as a fan when they only cheer when they win and then head home when the going gets tough.

I don't see it as that black and white though.

I wouldn't leave a gameearly unless I had too, but i can understand why some people would.

I can (relitively) easily handle my time losing without wanting to leave as long as I feel teh players are trying to win. However, there are times when your team has no hope of even drawing the game, the players have done crap all for the entire match and with 10 minutes to go have just given up even trying to compete. It is a lot harder to support a bunch of players who have given up trying/caring. If the players don't care, and don't want to be there, why should you be EXPECTED to support that?

astrofool · 02-01-2008 03:15PM

Some people martyr themselves over things like this, some don't, simple as, imo of course. People leaving early can often be a kick in the backside to the running of the club and cause changes to happen.

citytillidie · 02-01-2008 03:21PM

I have never ever left a match early i dont see the point, you paid good money to go and watch it if its a game in England so you should stay and watch every minute.

smemon · 02-01-2008 03:27PM

if you've a decent excuse it's ok to leave (i.e. someone's sick, you need a flight/train etc...)

if you're leaving just to beat the traffic or you're tired etc, you're not worthy of the ticket you have.

if you're 6-0 down with 80 mins on the clock, NOBODY should be allowed leave, gates should be blocked and the side should be booed off the pitch by capacity crowd

DSB · 02-01-2008 03:29PM

The customer attitude really does disgust me to be honest. Fair enough, if someone wants to watch football solely for the entertainment factor that is their own choice, but I really don't think there is any point in claiming any real affinity with that club or calling yourself a supporter, if you're not willing to see them at their worst. Towards the start of last season, Shelbourne really weren't playing good football at all, but I definitely enjoyed last season more than the previous season (where we won the Premier). Then again, its no1s responsibility to convince me that they're a real supporter, but you're only kidding yourself.

sprinkles · 02-01-2008 03:37PM

There are many reasons why people would leave early. I can understand if say a family left early - as many do to avoid the crowds which can be tricky when your karting a few kids with you.

However, and this is mainly aimed at the crowds at the recent Irish matches, I don't agree with the throngs of so called supporters trailing off as early as half time. My opinion is that if you want to be able to bitch and moan about the team you can't walk out of the stadium early. I stayed and watched every dire minute of the home games in corker/landsdown and I was vocal in my support and my disapproval but I stayed in the ground til the ref blew the wistle - and a little bit longer to make sure the boos continued

If you want to leave early you can but unless you have a good reason to do so you are showing a lack of support for the team and it's direspectful IMO. I seriously doubt there were 30,000 dads and sons in croker that left early to avoid the crowds.

Leaving early at a football match - Yay or Nay?

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