The top places that football fans have confessed to slyly checking a match score include as a passenger in a car, in a supermarket – and even while on the toilet.
Some of the more inappropriate locations where fans have caught up on the score include immediately after sex, or during a family meal – while one in five (19%) have sneaked a peak during a meeting at work.
A poll of 2,000 die-hard football fans revealed that four in ten experience “FOMS” – fear of missing scores – and worry about missing the score if they can't watch their team play live.
More than a third (36%) admit they can't think of anything else while a game is on if they are not able to watch it.
And one dedicated fan even admitted to being dragged out of his car, where he was trying to check the scores – during his own wedding.
Meanwhile, 35% have engaged in “score-ception”, checking the result while at another football match.
Ric Leask, from LiveScore, a service which can keep fans up to date with the latest results, and which commissioned the research ahead of the World Cup, said: “For most football fans, the beautiful game is a pure passion, and passion takes commitment.
“While we do not advocate checking the scores while on the toilet or during a business meeting, we understand the desire to keep up to date with the latest result.
“That’s why we try to make the process as quick and convenient as possible.”
The World Cup is a flashpoint of distraction for the football faithful – and with many of the upcoming fixtures at the tournament taking place in work hours, one in five plan to stream matches on their phone on the sly while they work.
Almost half (44%) even admitted the World Cup will take priority over their job for the four weeks of games being broadcast.
And some are planning to deploy underhand methods, like pulling a sickie (11%) or booking fake meetings (14%), so they can watch a game.
Others are more honest with their employers, with 18% coming to an agreement with their boss to watch the tournament’s drama unfold on the company time.
And the obsession doesn’t stop there, with 37% telling their partner to keep the calendar clear of plans while the World Cup is on.
Although 54% have been scolded by their other half for checking the scores when they should be doing something else.
More than a quarter (27%) will dodge radio and TV broadcasts, their football friends, and other sources of spoilers until they can find out the score for themselves.
And according to the research, carried out via OnePoll.com, following a team is anything but trivial – it’s a way of life.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of fans said that knowing their team is winning makes them happier – and three in ten would take the week to celebrate if their team brings home the World Cup at this year’s tournament in Qatar.
A spokesman from LiveScore added: “The upcoming tournament has been a source of endless anticipation for football fans.
“November and December are likely to feel overtaken by football chat and obsession – but it is important for those following the fixtures to make time where they can for other aspects of their lives.”
TOP 20 PLACES FOOTBALL FANS HAVE CHECKED MATCH SCORES:
- As a passenger in a car
- At work
- In the supermarket
- On the toilet
- At a family meal
- At another football match
- On a sun lounger while on holiday
- Visiting the in-laws
- During a birthday party
- In hospital
- At a wedding
- At the doctors
- During a work meeting
- At a gig
- While trying to get the kids to sleep
- When the children are in the bath
- At the dentist
- While helping the kids with their homework
- Immediately before/after sex
- On a plane – having paid for Wi-Fi to do so
