Recently I was invited to a local football banter talk show by a top Malay-language sports channel in Malaysia. I was invited as a Manchester United fan as they wanted to have women on the show. The other guest was a Liverpool fan. So without seeing the show, you can imagine what they have in mind.
It has been years since I last appeared on live television and it has been a long while since I argued with anyone about Manchester United and Liverpool. To be honest, I had second thoughts about appearing on the show simply because I could not be bothered to fight a Liverpool fan but I went ahead with it.
The thing is I always feel anxious about being in front of the camera, especially if it's a live show. Especially when this show was live on Facebook. You know how vicious Facebook folks can be. But there's always this fear deep inside me that I might screw up and become a laughing stock, especially because I am a woman.
I went on the show thinking this is not a show that is going to get much attention so I should not think too much about it. Nobody is going to watch women talk football in this country.
And then it went viral and I became a meme.
I had no idea who my opponent was, what her knowledge in football is like or what she does. All I know is that she's a Liverpool fan. To be honest everything else didn't matter as this show is not a show you need to overthink. It's a banter show and meant to be provocative. They just wanted two rival fans fighting but the show took a turn when my opponent said:
"I don't agree that Liverpool won one Premier League title in 30 years. MU has no trophy only Liverpool has a trophy. When MU won it was Barclays Premier League and not the Premier League"
That's when I was stunned. That's when I became a meme.
Despite my reaction, to be honest I was worried for her because I knew this is not gonna go down well for her. The host tried to correct her about the Premier League but she won't back down so I tried to suggest that we change the subject before it gets worse. But the damage was done.
One day after the show, people started sharing that part of the show on social media and she was attacked left and right even until now, at the time of writing this.
This is when things got out of hands. It is normal when women talk football, people don't take them seriously. Worse when they got the facts wrong. So naturally and unfortunately, sexist comments such as 'this is why women shouldn't talk football', 'this is why women should just stay in the kitchen' were thrown at us. 2020 and I still have to deal with these remarks.
To be fair, she didn't help her case by being defensive about her incorrect understanding on the Premier League. That's what most people had a problem with. Then again, people don't need to be so nasty. At the end of the day she is a very passionate Liverpool fan and really loves the club.
Two things here:
1. If you don't know, it's okay. If you're wrong, admit it, accept it and move on.
2. Don't generalise, ever.
This incident is a lesson for all of us. Not just her. But this really reminds me of how ruthless football fans can be and that I was right to have felt anxious every time I have to talk football on TV.
I've had my fair share of abuse on social media when I first started tweeting about football 11-12 years ago so I know how bad it can be. I just can't believe that I'm caught up in one again now. Maybe not directly to me this time but I am unfortunately in the frame.
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