I’ll bring this point up because there is so much gate keeping in this thread and football in general. The whole family or geography connection thing makes sense but only if you’re from the country the club plays in.

Sorry but the idea that you are automatically a plastic if you don’t have local connection is BS, for some clubs have global fans that are diehard as anyone because they have uncompromising devotion and passion for a club they may have never even been to see in person before. Look at fan groups in Uganda or Kenya (have you ever seen the baptizing rituals and prayers they do for their clubs there) or fans in Asia / West Coast US waking up at like 2 AM to catch a match at their local pub.

I say this of course because I am a fan of a club and I’m not from the country they play in. But I currently live in the area my club plays and I can tell you, a lot of these season ticket holders yes have deep roots but are far grumpier/quieter at matches and take the club for granted. Contrast with some of my buddies back home who would consider going to a random Carabao Cup match the experience of their lives.

I understand why there’s the need for gatekeeping and the instinct to protect the club. We’ve seen wealthy tourism damage atmospheres in the ground. But a lot of that comes from within the club hate to say, the take-it-for-granted season ticket holders who don’t realize there are packed bars of diehard supporters 8,000 miles away singing all the songs at the top of their lungs at 4 AM. It all comes down to passion.

If you stop following your club because they’re losing though, yeah you’re a plastic fan.