Ruling on supporting sports teams
Question

                What is the ruling on supporting sports teams?
Praise be to Allah.
    Blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah. 

    The Muslim should be serious in his life and keep himself 
    busy with that for which he was created, which is the worship of Allaah 
    alone. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except 
    that they should worship Me (Alone)”[al-Dhaariyaat 51:26]

    He should have nothing to do with these matters which harm 
    him in both spiritual and worldly terms and distract him from that which is 
    in his best interests in this world and in the Hereafter. The basic 
    guideline concerning permissible things according to the scholars is that 
    whatever distracts one from obligatory duties or becomes a means of 
    committing forbidden actions; thereby becomes haraam. As for things that 
    distract one from doing things that are mustahabb but are not a means of 
    committing haraam actions, then they are makrooh. Whatever does not distract 
    from either obligatory duties or mustahabb actions is permissible in 
    principle. Whoever looks at those who support sports teams will find that 
    they devote all their time and energy to supporting the team, and they 
    neglect many obligatory duties, e.g., they neglect praying in congregation, 
    they delay their prayers beyond the proper time, and other things which are 
    no secret. If the matter reaches this level it is undoubtedly haraam. In 
    addition, this support is accompanied by attachment of the heart, and love 
    and hatred based on that.