world cup and domestic abuse

Major football tournaments have a well-documented dark side: reported domestic abuse rises during the World Cup. This article explains what the evidence shows, why the risk increases, and, most importantly, how to get help.

If you are in immediate danger, call call 999 now. For confidential advice at any time, call the Ringrose Law 24-hour helpline on 07739 748 675. A full list of support services is at the bottom of this page.

 

Does domestic abuse increase during the World Cup?

Yes. The link between England matches and domestic abuse has been studied for over a decade, and the pattern is consistent across different tournaments and different police forces.

A frequently cited 2013 Lancaster University study, covering the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, found that reported domestic abuse rose by 38% when England lost and by 26% when England won or drew. Researchers also found a carry-over effect, with incidents remaining elevated the day after a match. During the 2022 World Cup, Sussex Police reported that match-day 999 calls relating to domestic abuse doubled.

 

Why does the risk go up during football tournaments?

Football doesn’t cause domestic abuse. The vast majority of people who watch the games and enjoy a drink will never harm anyone, and abuse is always a choice made by the perpetrator. It’s never the fault of the victim.

What tournaments do is intensify a set of known risk factors at the same time:

  • Increased alcohol consumption
  • Heightened emotions around high-stakes matches, and
  • The tension that builds before, during and after a game

Where controlling or aggressive behaviour already exists in a household, these conditions can make escalation more likely.

 

Why timing matters this year

The picture is more nuanced than “football equals abuse,” and the timing of matches plays a significant role. Largely through its effect on how much alcohol is consumed.

The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) has raised particular concerns about a tournament with many late-evening kick-offs. As Charlotte Woodward, the NCDV’s head of training and development, explained to Stylist magazine, late matches can mean people finish work, head straight to the pub, and drink for hours before kick-off. Combine prolonged drinking with the heightened emotions of a World Cup and end-of-day tiredness, she noted, and households where aggression already exists become more likely to see it escalate. The NCDV is prepared to scale up its resources if referrals spike, as they did during and after the 2020 Euros.

 

Awareness, not excuses

Alongside charities such as Women’s Aid, campaigns like “He’s Coming Home,” “No More Injury Time” and “Stop It Coming Home” work to keep this issue visible during tournament season.

None of this is about excusing perpetrators. Police forces have been clear on that point, as Detective Inspector Ben Ferguson put it, passionate support of any sport does not justify domestic abuse. The purpose of raising awareness is the opposite: to make clear that abuse is never acceptable, and to ensure victims know that support is within reach.

How to get legal protection

If you are frightened of abuse during this period, you do not have to face it alone. Our family law team can advise you confidentially on the legal protections available to you.

One of these is a Non-Molestation Order. A court order designed to protect you and your children from an abuser by prohibiting them from using or threatening violence, harassing, or intimidating you. Where there is a risk of harm, these applications can often be made quickly, and in urgent cases without notice to the other person first.

To talk through your options in confidence, contact our family team on 07739 748 675.

 

Getting help

In an emergency, always call 999.