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15 Struggles Only Hardcore Soccer Fans Will Understand

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By @b2brennan

15 Struggles Only Hardcore Soccer Fans Will Understand

West Bromwich Albion fans look dejected as their side suffer defeat
David Rogers - Getty Images

As a hardcore soccer fan, there are many struggles we face on a daily basis. We all have our problems with it, from simply struggling to watch your team play, to the rules and issues surrounding the lovely game itself. Without further ado, here are my top 15 struggles all hardcore soccer fans will understand.

15. Diving

5 Bold Predictions for Stoke City vs. Manchester City in EPL Week 25
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15. Diving

5 Bold Predictions for Stoke City vs. Manchester City in EPL Week 25
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We all know this would be on the list somewhere. It seems like diving goes unpunished more often than not, and unfortunately it is part of the game. Most of us would love to see diving disappear from the game, but that is highly unlikely.

14. Being Called A Bandwagon Fan

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney
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14. Being Called A Bandwagon Fan

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney - Copy
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As an American, it's not easy to say you have a deep connection with a European club. This generally leads to the bandwagon discussion. Nothing stings more than hearing someone say you only like a club because of their rich history.

13. Fan Ignorance

MLS CBA2
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13. Fan Ignorance

MLS CBA
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Soccer is a growing sport in America, and its improvement is inevitable. Ratings are up where, ratings in a couple other U.S.-based sports are decreasing. It's just plain ignorant to say the sport has no room for growth in America.

12. Finding An English Speaking Live Stream

5. Luis Suarez extends his scoring streak to two games
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12. Finding An English Speaking Live Stream

5. Luis Suarez extends his scoring streak to two games
Getty Images

It's hard enough to find a live streaming broadcast of a soccer game, let alone one announced by someone who speaks English. There aren't many things worse than when you finally find a good feed and aren't able to understand what is being said.

11. Corruption

sepp blatter
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11. Corruption

sepp blatter
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FIFA has been surrounded with the corruption rumors, and the most recent notable being the World Cup 2022 being held in Qatar. It's hard to ignore the corruption of the committee when these rumors come out almost monthly.

10. Racism

Mario Balotelli of Liverpool arrives for the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on January 10, 2015 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Michael Regan - Getty Images

10. Racism

Mario Balotelli of Liverpool arrives for the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on January 10, 2015 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Michael Regan - Getty Images

Racism is one of the biggest issues in the sport of soccer, and unfortunately is another problem that will likely continue. There's no room for racism in anything, and we've all seen our fair share of it during a match. The only thing we can do is hope for it to stop.

9. Big Club Spending

Real Madrid CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga
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9. Big Club Spending

Real Madrid CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga
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Real Madrid and Manchester City are two big culprits of this. These teams are prime candidates when it comes to buying anything they want. Unfortunately, in my opinion, this can get frustrating knowing that a few teams in the world are willing to spend whatever they have to get the top players.

8. MLS

MLS: MLS Cup Final-New England Revolution vs LA Galaxy
Kelvin Kuo - USA TODAY Sports

8. MLS

MLS: MLS Cup Final-New England Revolution vs LA Galaxy
Kelvin Kuo - USA TODAY Sports

Americans are typically used to their country being a favorite in almost any sport. It's depressing knowing this is definitely not the case for the sport of soccer. MLS is one of the worst leagues among the big ones, and it's almost nowhere near like any other structure in the world of soccer. As an American, I can't help but put my head down a little bit when I hear anything about MLS.

7. Transfer Rumors

0 John Carver sits on the Newcastle bench
Matthew Lewis - Getty Images

7. Transfer Rumors

0 John Carver sits on the Newcastle bench
Matthew Lewis - Getty Images

All year long we hear rumors surrounding transfers. This occurs in every sport, but none as much as soccer. The journalism around soccer transfers is all rumor based until papers are signed. It can be rather frustrating hearing your team be in talks to sign every good player in the world.

6. 10 A.M. (EST) Matches

EPL Captain Arm Band
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6. 10 A.M. (EST) Matches

EPL Captain Arm Band
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There's usually around five matches at the same time, 10 a.m. EST, on Saturdays during the EPL season. If you're a fan of anybody besides the big four clubs, there's a good chance you won't be able to see your team play if you have regular cable. This also leads to the difficult live stream situation.

5. West Coast Match Times

5 Bold Predictions for Stoke City vs Arsenal in EPL Week 15
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5. West Coast Match Times

5 Bold Predictions for Stoke City vs Arsenal in EPL Week 15
Getty Images

Speaking of game times, if you're on the west coast of America, have fun with that. Unless your team is playing at the typical 12:30 p.m. EST Saturday or 11:15 a.m. EST Sunday time, you can kiss sleeping in goodbye. You will likely be watching your team start at 7 a.m. EST or the dreaded 4:45 a.m. EST start on a Saturday.

4. The World Cup

Ghana v USA: Group G - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
Robert Cianflone - Getty Images

4. The World Cup

Ghana v USA: Group G - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
Robert Cianflone - Getty Images

We all love the World Cup -- it's arguably the best event in the sports world. The worst part is that we have to wait four years for it. This is a gift and a curse, because it makes the games so special, but as a hardcore soccer fan you shed a tear knowing you have to wait so long to see your country on the big stage.

3. The Champions League

4. No distraction of UEFA Champions League fixtures
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3. The Champions League

4. No distraction of UEFA Champions League fixtures
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The Champions League is another great event in the world of soccer, but it's extremely tough to watch as an American. The games take place during the week, so if you're a working citizen in the USA, there's a good chance you're missing the game. We have the final on a weekend, which is great, but it's awful not being able to watch two big clubs play live during the week.

2. Ability To View

Cristiano Ronaldo
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno - Getty Images

2. Ability To View

Cristiano Ronaldo
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno - Getty Images

This wraps up all the tough game times and such, so the ability to watch any league but the EPL is difficult to swallow for hardcore soccer fans. The EPL is easy to view, with the games on NBC Sports on the weekend, but if you're a fan of other leagues like I am, it's very difficult to catch your team's matches. Luckily there are moves in play to bring some leagues to cable TV, but right now, it's not easy watching soccer outside of the EPL.

1. The Soccer Haters

Borussia Dortmund BVB Bundesliga
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1. The Soccer Haters

Borussia Dortmund BVB Bundesliga
Getty Images

Of course, No. 1 is going to be the soccer haters. It's okay to dislike a sport, but soccer haters are the worst. They typically don't understand the sport and their arguments are misinformed and just painful to hear. I run into these people almost daily, and I can truly say it's the most frustrating thing to hear as a hardcore soccer fan.

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