An Investigation into the Relationship between Domestic Abuse Reporting and Professional Football Fixtures
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: As a nation of football lovers, many enjoy and celebrate football fixtures more than any other sport. As much as football plays a vital role in entertainment for the whole nation, it poses serious challenges for policing when tackling domestic violence incidents, resulting directly from an increased level of disorder caused by drunkenness. This article focuses on the hidden and under-researched area of the relationship between football fixtures and domestic abuse. The article examines and discusses the various contributing factors such as the scoreline, kick-off time, the day of the match and alcohol intoxication levels. A mixed-methods approach has been applied to conduct an in-depth literature review and secondary data analysis, to explore scholarly research conducted which reflects domestic abuse reporting to the police, before, during and after games. Moreover, the article provides a deeper understanding of why football has such a significant effect on domestic abuse in England, exploring large-scale competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship and the English Premier League.
Authors: Marina Hasan, Emma Taylor, Jonathan Jackson
Institution: Leeds Trinity University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7219828792