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While the nation gears up for England’s World Cup campaign to finally get underway tonight, thousands of women and children will be bracing themselves for a far more sinister ‘kick off’.
Women’s Aid is launching its latest campaign highlighting the increase in domestic abuse around major football tournaments, this time raising awareness around the time violence is predicted to rise after the game.
Instead of focusing on 9pm, when the Three Lions’s Group L opener begins, the charity has revealed ‘The Other Kick Off’ time – 11.37pm – when abusers are expected to arrive home following the final whistle.
The warning is especially important this year when the relatively late fixtures ‘can create an even more isolating, frightening environment for survivors’.
While football itself is no cause of domestic abuse, ‘heightened emotions and alcohol consumption can exacerbate abuse where it already exists’.
Research Lancaster University found incidents of domestic abuse rose by 38% when England lost and 26% when they won or drew.
Another study by the University of Warwick found an England win at a World Cup or Euros led to a 47% increase in the reported number of alcohol-related domestic abuse cases.
‘The Other Kick Off’ is the latest instalment in Women’s Aid’s award-winning ‘He’s Coming Home’ campaign, which included ‘No More Years of Hurt’ during Euro 2024.
Farah Nazeer, the charity’s CEO, said: ‘The World Cup is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together and cheer on our team. However, for women and children living with domestic abuse “kick-off” has a different meaning.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at [email protected].
Read more:
Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro's year-long violence against women campaign Remembering the women killed by men in 2024‘For those living with abuse, the final whistle of the game signals the beginning of something frightening and potentially life-threatening.
‘While we know that domestic abuse isn’t caused by football, we also know that heightened emotions and alcohol consumption can lead to a rise in domestic abuse frequency and severity.
‘Whether England wins, loses or draws, no woman or child should live in fear of that final whistle blow.
‘We hope that our campaign helps raise awareness of this heinous crime, while also signposting people to support, not only for themselves, but for loved ones they’re concerned about.’
Learn more about Women's Aid
Women's Aid have partnered with Metro for our This Is Not Right campaign.
They are a national charity continually working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Women's Aid is a federation of over 180 organisations, providing almost 300 local life-saving services to women and children. They are there to support survivors, helping them to be believed and to know that the abuse they've experienced is not their fault.
Women's Aid also campaign for change, calling on the government to address the causes and consequences of domestic abuse.
To learn more about Women's Aid, visit their website here.
To raise awareness for the thousands of women who could be at risk, ‘the other kick-off time’ will be displayed across digital billboards, mobile vans, and posters near major fan zones and football hotspots in London.
Each ‘Kick Off’ poster features a QR code directing the public to the Women’s Aid’s website, where people can access support, donate, learn about the signs of domestic abuse, and find ways to take action.
Women’s Aid Ambassador Charlie Webster added: ‘The World Cup is one of those rare moments when the whole country holds its breath together – united, hopeful, alive! That joy is real, and it’s precious.
‘But for women and children living with domestic abuse, tournament time brings something very different: heightened fear, and heightened danger. That is a reality we cannot look away from.
‘Football is our game. It belongs to all of us, and it should be a place of safety. I am proud to be raising awareness to change that, and make sure that when England plays, every woman at home is safe.’
What to do if you're experiencing domestic abuse
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. And whether you are currently coping with or have made the decision to leave, you do have options.
If you are thinking about leaving, domestic abuse charity Refuge suggests starting a record of abusive incidents, which might include saving pictures or messages, or making notes of times, dates and details of incidents. The next step is to make copies of important documents such as court orders, marriage certificates, National Insurance Numbers and your driving licence. In the meantime, identify the safer areas of your home so that you know where to go if your abuser becomes aggravated. Ideally, this should be a room with a phone and a door or window to the outside. If you feel ready to leave, start by making a plan for a safe, reliable route out. If you feel safe to do so, pack an emergency bag so that you leave in a hurry if needed. You can access a local refuge, either with or without children, for as long as you need to stay. The address is confidential. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) is open 24-hours a day and has all the details of refuges in your area. In an emergency situation, ring 999 and ask for the police. If you aren’t able to talk, try the Silent Solution: after dialling 999, listen to the questions from the operator and respond by coughing or tapping your device, if possible. If prompted, press 55 to let the operator know it's an emergency – you'll be put through to the police.Read more here.
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