As the full-time whistle blew in Atlanta on Wednesday, confirming England's exit from the World Cup, a wave of disappointment swept the nation. But for thousands of women and girls, a far more sinister emotion was taking hold — fear.
The shocking statistics
Research by Lancaster University lays bare the grim reality: domestic abuse rises by 26% when England play and by 38% when they lose. During major tournaments like the World Cup, many live in constant dread of what awaits at home.
Rebecca Goshawk, of domestic abuse charity Solace, watched the semi‑final against Argentina with a heavy sense of foreboding.
“We know that there’ll be survivors and victims frightened of their partners coming home and worried about what that might mean for them and their safety. They’re being shouted at, belittled, told they’re useless. It can be as strong as physical violence — being hit or kicked. For very few women will this be a one‑off, tournament‑related experience. It’s a recurring pattern.”
A pattern of abuse during tournaments
The National Police Chiefs’ Council recorded more than 300 domestic abuse offences during Euro 2024 that victims directly linked to football. While numbers for the 2026 World Cup are not yet available, Goshawk predicts the figures will be similarly grim, noting that underlying rates of misogyny and abuse are not improving.
Solace’s message is clear: the focus should be on perpetrators, not on the game itself.
“We try not to place the onus on football. It is overwhelmingly men who commit this violence. There are advice lines for men worried about their own behaviour, and a duty on other men to challenge it within friendships and families.”
The legal perspective and a call to action
Olivia Rose, the Crown Prosecution Service’s national stalking lead, stressed that abuse is not always physical.
“What our prosecutors see includes monitoring of phones and social media, emotional blackmail, threats of self‑harm if a partner leaves. This behaviour is not just unacceptable — it’s illegal.”
The CPS is urging communities to look out for those who may be at risk.
“If you can step in to help, you could be making a life‑changing difference.”
For victims, the message is one of support and belief. Charities stand ready, and the law offers protection. But the spotlight remains on football’s hidden, violent underbelly — a darkness that no tournament should bring.
Source: BBC Sport