As the English Premier League(EPL) 2025/26 season came to an end, one important lesson stands out clearly, that football is meant to unite people, and not divide them.
Sadly, the just-concluded season revealed a growing level of hatred, bitterness, unhealthy rivalry, and antagonistic behaviour among many football supporters home and abroad.
This trend is dangerous, not only to sportsmanship but also to human relationships and social harmony within the sphere.
As a passionate supporter of Arsenal, I celebrated my club’s success with joy and gratitude. The celebration became necessarily loud for the fact that such feelings have eluded the club and fans for over two decades.However, I have also observed the amount of negativity, false accusations, insults, and unnecessary hostility directed toward Arsenal throughout the season. Football rivalry should never become hatred. Competition should be healthy, ehile bitterness should be destructive.
Sportsmanship teaches us values such as respect, maturity, discipline, tolerance, and emotional balance. In every competition, there must always be a winner and a loser. Today it may be Arsenal; tomorrow it could be Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, or any other club. Success in football is temporary and constantly changing.
What becomes most worrisome is when some fans become happier seeing their own club lose simply because they do not want another club to succeed. Such an attitude contradicts the true meaning of loyalty and support . A genuine supporter stands with his or her club in victory and in defeat. Football should inspire healthy competition, not jealousy or hatred.
Even more disturbing is the growing tendency of some individuals to drag religion into football rivalry, making negative prophecies, hostile declarations, and using the name of God to promote division or mock others because of football. God should never be used as an instrument of hatred or rivalry over a game. Football is entertainment, and not warfare.
Interestingly, the footballers themselves relate peacefully after matches. They are usually seen greet one another, dine together, laugh together, exchange jerseys and maintain professional respect despite being opponents on the pitch. If the players themselves can coexist peacefully, why then should fans become enemies because of club loyalty?
Beyond the jerseys, beyond the clubs, beyond the rivalries, we remain human beings first. There is life beyond football. There is friendship beyond competition. There is love beyond rivalry. That human dignity and mutual respect be considered ahead of other things.
Let us therefore learn to celebrate with others when they succeed and encourage them when times are difficult. True sportsmanship is not measured only by how loudly we celebrate victory, but also by how respectfully we handle defeat and how humanely we treat others despite our differences.
Football should bring joy, laughter, unity, and entertainment, not division, insults, or hatred. When we inculcate these values, football enthusiasm and social interaction would become healthier for all.
