Warnings of Domestic Abuse Ahead of Euro 2024 Final | OneFootball

After a bright month of football, Euro 2024 draws to a close on Sunday night as England play Spain in the final. However, Sonia Twigg, Emma Armstrong and the Independent have drawn attention to the dark consequences of football.

Journalist, Sonia Twigg teamed up with I Choose Freedom CEO, Emma Armstrong to highlight the very real consequences of football.

Armstrong explains that her charity has seen a rise in referrals since the start of the Euros.

Armstrong, herself a survivor of domestic abuse, explains that:

“every time a football match was on, it was an excuse for him to go to the pub, it was an excuse for him to get drunk. He was heavily into drugs, so it was an excuse, and it would always result in an incident.

“Whether they’d won or whether they’d lost, it was just another reason for him to say, ‘That’s why I behaved…'”

In a detailed article, Twigg explains that Emma is far from alone in her experiences.

Domestic Violence and football are closely linked, with reported incidents increasing by 26% if England plays, 38% if England loses and 11% the next day, win or lose, according to the National Centre for Domestic Violence.

ONS report that 1 in 5 adults experience Domestic Abuse during their lifetime. This equates to: 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6-7 men.

The police recorded 1,500,369 domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in England and Wales in the year ending March 2022, an annual increase of 7.7%.

A domestic abuse-related call is made to the police every 30 seconds.

It is estimated that fewer than 24% of domestic abuse crimes are reported to the police.

‘Football is not a cause of domestic abuse, but for far too many, it is a catalyst.’

In the UK and elsewhere increased reports of domestic abuse are also associated with sports other than football, including rugby and American football.

Alcohol is a feature of both football spectatorship and sponsorship, and it has been identified as a contributory factor in domestic abuse.

The risk of domestic abuse is exacerbated by the sporting context.

Twigg quotes an anonymous survivor:

“[It] Got worse if there was an important match. If he was watching he wanted everyone out of the room and not to be interrupted. He didn’t have a favourite team, he was watching because he gambled. If he lost the bet he would blame me and take it out on me”

As England’s Men prepare for their first major championship final abroad, the message is to look out for others.

For many, football is about entertainment.

For others, it is a source of hurt and harm.

As fans descend on Berlin for the Euro 2024 final and millions watch from home on Sunday, these two words will collide.

If you or someone you know is at risk of domestic abuse, you can contact I choose Freedom or the National Centre for Domestic Violence by following the hyperlink, texting NCDV to 60777, or calling the national helpline on 0808 2000 247 (Open 24 hours a day).

Thank you to Sonia Twigg for permission to cite her article and the bravery of Emma and other survivors.

Get Football | Oscar O’Mara