We’ll admit that we simply don’t get it.
Football – to us at least – is about supporting your own (singular) team with all your soul, whilst maintaining a healthy dislike for the opposition. It is exactly this tribalism and partisanship that fuels passion for the sport for so many.
It is therefore bizarre and unsettling for us to see the growing number of ‘half-and-half’ scarves doing the rounds in this day and age. Now we appreciate that some visiting fans from foreign shores may want a memento of their once-in-a-lifetime match day, but perhaps tuck it coyly in your bag.
We don’t like it. One bit. Especially when swagmen around fiercely contested and historic derbies are doing a roaring trade selling half-and-half merchandise to the match-going public.
The Manchester derby was the imperfect case in point. The very sight of the great Northern rivals featuring on the very same scarves jars with the traditional fanbase of the respective clubs…
At Old Trafford for Manchester derby pic.twitter.com/09EsmkjSX8
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 25, 2015
Plenty of fans are here at OT already – where are you watching the game? Share your snaps with #mufcfanpics. pic.twitter.com/IAUDw6qAiM
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 25, 2015
Show the world you don't know anything about football. Buy a half and half scarf #ManchesterDerby pic.twitter.com/R9le6trb5o
— I Love Manchester (@ILoveMCR) October 25, 2015
It’s got to such a point that Darren Webb, gatekeeper of Sam Platts pub near Old Trafford, has banned his clientele from adorning the offending items…
The Trafford Pub in Manchester has no tolerance for half & half scarf Wankers pic.twitter.com/emtBIsbURr
— Paul 𝕏 Manc Bald and Bred (@MufcWonItAll2) October 25, 2015
It makes you wonder where it will all end. The shirt below may have been tweeted by a parody account but it’s not all that divorced from reality…
MY LOYALTIES TORN TODAY. IT LIKE CHOOSING BETWEEN MY TWO CHILDREN. LUCKY I HAVE IDEAL SHIRT FOR THIS ❤️💙 #MCFC #MUFC pic.twitter.com/wOQDKuJdvN
— Beijing Red 4 Lyf (@Beijingcasuals) October 25, 2015
On that note, we’ll leave you with this nightmarish vision of the future. Don’t tell us we didn’t warn you…
@TheFooTypster Half&half kit wanker makes a full kit wanker, no? pic.twitter.com/RUuxdX1qgJ
— Nick (@DaOneToFollow) October 25, 2015
