We must increase support for the women who lose when England win
4 min read
The World Cup has a remarkable ability to bring the nation together. Families, friends, neighbours and colleagues all unite behind the national team, anxiously watching the games.
But for many across the country, an England match brings a different sense of anxiety entirely. Instead of celebrating the result, they are bracing themselves for the final whistle.
Incidents of domestic abuse increase by 38 per cent when England lose and 26 per cent when they win or draw. According to domestic abuse charity Refuge, sadly fewer than 24 per cent of domestic abuse incidents are reported, so the real increase is likely to be much greater.
In a now-infamous video posted on X, Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, Sarah Pochin, is filmed saying that “on the occasions that England lose their football matches, instances of domestic violence go through the roof”, ending the video urging the “boys” to “keep winning”. She flippantly captioned the video: “For the sake of women’s safety, we need England to keep winning”.
I won’t speculate as to whether she is intentionally espousing disingenuous narratives around domestic abuse for views or genuinely believes the responsibility of keeping women safe lies with the England team and its performance. This issue is beyond political point scoring. This is about violence.
I’ll be clear: women’s safety does not depend on whether Harry Kane scores a penalty. It depends on whether we are prepared to hold perpetrators to account, properly fund survivors’ support services, invest in preventative measures, and stop allowing politicians to treat violence against women as fodder for social media clips. No result – win, lose or draw – ever justifies abuse.
Getting the language right is only the first step. We also need to prepare for the reality that frontline organisations know is coming. That’s why I’m supporting Women’s Aid’s new campaign, The Other Kick Off, which highlights the estimated time that domestic abuse is predicted to rise after the final whistle. Raising awareness is especially poignant this year, as the late-night matches alongside a perpetrator’s likely increased alcohol consumption heighten the chances of domestic abuse occurring and create an even more isolating, frightening environment for survivors.
Football and alcohol do not cause domestic abuse. But major tournaments can intensify the circumstances in which abuse pre-exists. Heightened emotions, drinking and gambling can increase volatility and coercive behaviour – but responsibility always lies with the perpetrator.
Many perpetrators of domestic abuse are completely sober, and identifying alcohol as the cause incorrectly shifts the blame away from them.
Incidents of domestic abuse increase by 38 per cent when England lose and 26 per cent when they win or draw
None of this should diminish the joy that football brings millions of people. But enjoying the tournament shouldn’t mean ignoring the evidence. One in three women will experience domestic abuse during their lifetime. Reports increase when England play, and after England’s next game, women in abusive relationships are more likely to experience harm.
I regularly meet with domestic abuse organisations in my constituency of Bath. Before the tournament began, they told me that they expected a surge in demand on top of their already overstretched services.
With cuts to health and social services, ever-reducing government funding and short-term commissioning rounds, domestic abuse organisations are struggling to meet the growing demand for their services all year round – not just during the World Cup.
And yet these vital organisations help survivors access the tools needed to recognise abuse, support them to escape harm, offer housing, legal advice and health services, and are integral to stopping the cycle of abuse.
We need guaranteed long-term funding for these life-saving domestic abuse services. I’m calling on the government to end the short-term competitive commissioning rounds that pit domestic abuse organisations against each other in a fight for the same small pot of money.
I’ll be cheering England on like millions of others this summer. Whatever the score, though, women’s safety depends not on what happens on the pitch but on whether we are serious enough to confront violence against women and girls off it.
Wera Hobhouse is Liberal Democrat MP for Bath
