According to UK government statistics, approximately 3.8 million people over 16 were victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year to March 2025.
Experts have linked major football tournaments to a "heightened danger" for those impacted by domestic abuse. A study from Lancaster University found that incidents of domestic abuse rose by 38% when England lost in World Cup tournaments, and 26% when they won or drew.
During the 2016 Euros, British police recorded 96 incidents of football-related domestic abuse, while during the 2024 Euros, this number increased to 351. The National Police Chiefs Council lead for football policing, Mark Roberts, notes that even these numbers are likely incomplete due to underreporting.
The England team's progress in tournaments has been linked to an increase in domestic abuse incidents. According to Sue Harper, director for domestic abuse and sexual violence prevention at charity Hestia, the period when England is involved in the World Cup can be a "time of anxiety" for those impacted by domestic abuse.
Experts warn that factors associated with major football matches, such as increased alcohol consumption and emotions running high, contribute to an increase in existing domestic abuse. The UK government has been tracking incidents of football-related domestic abuse during tournaments since 2016.
Background:
- Domestic abuse is a year-round problem in the UK.
- Major international men's football tournaments can represent a time of "heightened danger" for those impacted by domestic abuse.
- Increased alcohol consumption and emotions running high are contributing factors to an increase in existing domestic abuse incidents.