Would UK sports fans date a rival supporter?

All you need is love? Well, a bit of shared club loyalty definitely helps, as it turns out. A significant 20% of sports fans in the United Kingdom think it's important that their (future) partner supports the same team as they do. That's according to a survey carried out by Betting.co.uk with 1,500 sports enthusiasts from across the UK.

Key findings:

• 1 in 5 sports fans in the United Kingdom say it’s important for their (future) partner to support the same team.
• Among all Premier League fan bases, AFC Bournemouth fans care the most about shared club loyalty. Half of their supporters believe it’s important that their (future) partner is also a Bournemouth fan.
• For 10%, it’s a deal-breaker if their (future) partner supports a rival team.
• 28% of UK sports fans would skip a romantic night out for an important match of their favourite team.

How important is shared club loyalty in a relationship for UK sports fans?

Just your luck: you think you’ve found the one, only to discover they’re a fan of your biggest sports rival. Gone are those cosy nights on the couch cheering for the same team or that romantic getaway to a big championship match. So, what really matters more: scoring in love or scoring in the game? For 1 in 5 sports fans in the UK, a good character and a sense of humour just won’t cut it. They think it’s important that their (future) partner supports the same team as they do.

Bournemouth fans value shared club loyalty most

Among Premier League fan bases, AFC Bournemouth fans stand out, with 50% saying it’s important for their (future) partner to support the same club. FC Brentford fans follow at 38%, with Southampton FC close behind at 35%. On the other hand, Wolverhampton Wanderers fans seem more laid-back—just 3% care whether their (future) partner shares their club love, the lowest percentage among all Premier League fans.

For some, supporting a rival team is a relationship deal-breaker

It doesn’t end there. For 1 in 10 UK sports fans, it’s a deal-breaker if their (future) partner supports a rival team. For these fans, being in a relationship with someone who backs the competition is simply unthinkable.

A night out with sports heroes wins over a night with a partner

Few things are as special as finding true love. But for some fans, their love for their club runs so deep that, in certain situations, it even beats romantic love. Our study reveals that 28% of UK sports fans say they’d choose an important match of their favourite team over a romantic night out with their (future) partner. Moreover, a third of sports fans in the UK say that if they had to choose between a night out with their sports hero or their (future) partner, they’d prefer a night out with their idol.

62% refuse to compromise on team loyalty

But what if your partner invites you to a match for their favourite club, and it happens to be the biggest rival of your own favourite team? For more than a third (38%) of UK sports fans, they’d politely decline the invitation.

Lastly, we asked fans whether they’d be willing to make changes to team-related items around the house or even adjust their team gear if their partner requested it. The response is loud and clear: a solid 62% said there’s no chance. For them, their team loyalty is non-negotiable, even when love is involved.

Methodology

In November 2024, Betting.co.uk commissioned an independent survey of 1,500 sports fans from the United Kingdom, including supporters of Premier League teams. The survey collected data on various topics, including the importance of shared team loyalty with a (future) partner, the extent to which supporting a rival team is seen as a deal-breaker, preferences regarding time spent with a partner versus other activities, and the willingness to make adjustments to visible displays of club loyalty for a potential partner. Among respondents, 57% were male, 42% female, and 1% non-binary, with an average age of 41.