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During a major tournament like the 2024 Euros, the football scene is inescapable. Children rush to fill sticker books, matches are constantly on the television, and office parties are hosted with big screens showing the action. But there are many across the country for whom football is anything but a cause for celebration.
New data released by more than 30 police forces across England following Freedom of Information requests by The Independent revealed staggering figures on domestic abuse-related 999 calls between 16 June and 14 July this year, when the Uefa Euros competition was taking place.
Calls related to domestic abuse surged 13 per cent above daily averages on England match days, with an average total of 3,256 calls across the country.
This surpasses previous data which suggests a domestic abuse-related call is made to the police every 30 seconds on average, according to women’s support charity Refuge. This would equate to 2,880 calls a day, but Refuge warned that with only 24 per cent of domestic abuse incidents reported to police, the figure us likely to be far higher.
The new statistics come as The Independent’s Brick by Brick campaign, in partnership with Refuge, continues its work to raise £600,000 to build two safe houses for survivors fleeing domestic abuse.
Donations have poured in from readers, politicians, campaigners, celebrities and the business world, and have now passed £350,000.
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Emily, a survivor, believes the culture surrounding football has had a serious impact on the correlation between domestic abuse and the sport.
She told The Independent: “What’s concerning is the culture around football. It’s a very male-dominated sport. Even when you go to football matches it is the language used by some fans around women.
“I’ve heard people say things about players’ wives and girlfriends, and I think it’s legitimised in the culture of football.”
Emma Armstong, a survivor who now runs 12 refuges across Surrey, added: “It makes me feel sad that the whole of England is impacted by football, and the whole of England isn’t taking domestic abuse seriously.”
Northamptonshire was revealed to have received the highest rate – 5.2 per 1,000 people – of domestic abuse-related calls, totalling 3,875 calls received over England match days on 16 June, 20 June, 25 June, 30 June, 6 July, 10 July and 14 July.
The Metropolitan Police received the highest number of calls over the four weeks, with a total of 5,114 calls recorded across London.
A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said: “During the month-long tournament, officers carried out pro-active visits to those considered to be high-risk domestic violence perpetrators as well as using social media to signpost people to partner agencies who can provide advice and support.
“Violence against women and girls, which incorporates domestic abuse, continues to be a matter of priority for the force, and throughout the year we provide preventative messages to signpost people to where they can get support.”
The five areas with the lowest rate of calls received during the Euros included Lincolnshire, Wiltshire, Cumbria, Gloucestershire, and Devon and Cornwall.
The Independent received responses from 31 police forces in England while seven were unable or refused to hand over the data.
The forces contacted stressed the calls regarding domestic abuse could not be definitively linked to the Euros tournament.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said in August 351 football-related domestic abuse incidents were recorded during this year’s Euros. This was an increase from the 193 domestic abuse incidents related to football recorded during the Euros in 2021, it said.
Refuge stressed that while these figures show a rise in calls during a big football tournament, domestic abuse “happens all year round” and football should never be used as an excuse. It is also estimated that less than 24 per cent of domestic abuse crimes are reported to the police.
Ikram Dahman, Refuge’s interim director of fundraising, policy and communications, warned that statistics linking domestic abuse to football needed to be treated with caution.
“Domestic abuse doesn’t happen because the football is on. While these tournaments can aggravate pre-existing behaviours, abuse happens all year round – it is a choice a perpetrator makes, stemming from power and control, from gender inequality, which misogyny and patriarchy help perpetuate.
“The abuse a woman experiences all year round is perhaps less visible - but no less harmful. That’s what we mustn’t forget. Abusers can use football or alcohol intake as an excuse, but there is never an excuse for domestic abuse. Domestic abuse doesn’t happen because a team wins or loses, it happens because a perpetrator chooses to abuse.”
Assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe, NPCC lead for domestic abuse, and chief constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, said: “Collecting data in this area is challenging because we rely on victims disclosing abuse, reporting the link with football where it exists, and accurate information recording across 43 forces.
“We also know that many victims won’t report abuse to the police, so we do not have the full picture of offending.”
An FA spokesperson said: “We strongly condemn violence of all kinds and encourage anyone who has been the subject of, or witness to, violent or criminal behaviour to report it to the police so that the matter can be appropriately investigated.”
Please donate now to the Brick by Brick campaign, launched by The Independent and charity Refuge, to help raise £600,000 to build a safe space for women where they can escape domestic abuse, rebuild their lives and make a new future. Text BRICK to 70560 to donate £15
The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated men’s advice line on 0808 8010 327. Those in the US can call the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
