Crocheter sits in front of TV in sports bar during US vs Belgium World Cup game, gets fan kicked out when he protests: 'I can’t muster up energy for sportsball'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 7, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

Who gets priority, the regular or the fan?

Tournament season can be a pain for anybody who isn't a major fan of sports. For weeks at a time, you have to put up with a bunch of rowdy, entitled, and quite possibly not sober people taking over public spaces and TV screens because of their dedication to watching a ball being moved around. For those who do not want to get involved, the best option is to lie low until the competition is over.

At the same time, sports fans are as completely within their rights to enjoy their hobby as much as anybody else. Whether you care about it or not, it can't be denied that sports are great at both entertaining people and bringing them together. There is no shame in wanting to be a part of that, and it is only fair to critique the negative side of it, but looking down on it as a pastime is not the way to go.

Any kind of sporting competition is something that is going to involve strong emotions, and most non-fans would prefer that they were not directed at them. Nonetheless, that is occasionally how things turn out.

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  • A representation of a woman's hands crocheting while sitting down
    via David Vilches

    A representation of a woman's hands crocheting while sitting down

  • A crocheter was a regular at a sports bar, as it was her preferred place to crochet while having a couple of beers. She didn't care about sports, but she enjoyed her ritual of coming to the bar a couple of times a week.

    She felt that this ritual was interrupted when she went to the bar while the US vs Belgium World Cup game was playing. A fan reprimanded her for not paying attention to the game while sitting at the bar. When his behavior escalated, she got him kicked out of the bar, but the reaction of his friends left her wondering if she had allowed things to go too far.

  • Am I wrong for crocheting at the bar ordering drinks during the US vs Belgium World Cup game?

    I go to this bar to crochet 2-3x per week and usually get 2-3 beers depending on how long I am there. I am enough of a regular there that they start pouring my beer when I walk in and it is in front of me soon after I pick a seat and sit down. I also tip accordingly. It is a sports bars and I
    via Fun_Relief_2745
  • know that. I can't muster up energy for sportsball. They have never cared. Usually when I am there early in the day, sports aren't playing but it is the World Cup and sportsball seems to be on all day. No issue on my end.
    via Fun_Relief_2745
  • Well today I get to the bar around 3:30pm pacific to drink and crochet. We are in California. I keep drinking and crocheting through the game. Then someone gets ped off at me because I am not cheering when the US scores. Then they go off on me for taking up a bar seat in front of the TV when I'm not watching. Something I have done many many many times before. I tell him to
    via Fun_Relief_2745
  • eff off. Bartender gives me a look. I shake my head to brush it off. He gives me more attitude. Bartender gives me another look. I nod this time. Dude gets kicked out.
    via Fun_Relief_2745
  • Not the end of it. Apparently his friends are ped off he gets kicked out instead of me. Bartender tells them I'm a regular not causing any issues so welcome to stay over them. They shut up and we all continue through the evening. They seem to mostly be ped off at the fact that I am sitting at the bar in front of one of the 4 TVs not actually watching the game.
    via Fun_Relief_2745
  • AITA for patronizing a bar I go to regularly and not watching the World Cup game? I will be there once the World Cup is over and they won't.
    via Fun_Relief_2745
  • A group of fans cheers as they watch a soccer match on a flat screen TV in a bar
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    A group of fans cheers as they watch a soccer match on a flat screen TV in a bar

  • Stuggled WithUsername There's nothing like a good bartender. NTA.
    via StuggledWithUsername
  • conebone69696969 NTA but I cringe at anyone who refers to anything as sportsball. It's cool to not be into sports, but acting like you're cooler bc you don't is lame.
    via conebone69696969
  • sleepytime88 NTA for crocheting at a bar but you do kinda seem like an ah le. You hang out at a sports bar during major sports events but look down your nose at sports fans and 'can't muster up the energy to care about sportsball.' And the whole bit about giving
    via sleepytime88
  • the bartender the nod to give him permission to kick the guy out reeks of bulls. I bartended for a long time and found some regulars really let it get to their head. Sounds like you.
    via sleepytime88
  • S1159P NTA, and surely you know that? Especially as the bartender backed you? You'd be welcome to crochet at the bar at my local :)
    via S1159P
  • BB808BB YTA. You were very much not like other girls. Do you take a book to a concert too. I don't even like watching sports and yet you tried to do the most attention seeking thing
    via BB808BB
  • legally_brunette_01 NTA at all but if there is a seat that has a bad view of the TV it would be nice of you to take that when all "TV watching spots" are full.
    via legally_brunette_01
  • DrTeethPhD ESH He sucked for bothering you. You for using "sportsball." Bartender is cool.
    via DrTeethPhD
  • PirelliSuperHard ESH. Guy that got kicked out for being in your face about it. You for stinking of entitlement being performatively unaware of what's happening around you. Read the room sis.
    via PirelliSuperHard
  • calum007 respectfully ESH. Him for obvious reasons, but why not just go crochet in the corner of the bar? If you weren't watching the game why take up a seat directly facing the TV's in a bar full of people trying to watch it?
    via calum007
  • Izii01 Yes, you had every right to be there, but your timing was incredibly bad. Of course people are going to resent you.
    via Izii01

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crochet sports bar soccer entitled people
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