 Have you caught the most recent match yet? With the onset of football season, our screens are covered with constant reminders of the big game and the excitement of the upcoming matches. We can all too quickly become trapped in the high stakes, the adrenaline rush, the collective delight or sorrow. However, there lurks a darker undercurrent beneath this high-spirited unity. A grim shadow cast by the football fever that we tend to overlook. It's a nerve-racking truth that football and domestic violence are alarmingly interconnected. It's unsettling to think that the outcome of the English national team's matches has a direct impact on the frequency of reported domestic abuse incidents. A win or draw leads to a 26% increase in cases, while a loss triggers an even more troubling 38% surge. It's not the football that's the problem. We all want to live in a world where successes are shared, but it doesn't always work out that way. It's more about the match day atmosphere - the drinking, the emotional rollercoaster, the helplessness when things don't go the way we hoped. That's where the danger lies. Charities are hustling, scrambling to turn the floor lights on a hidden issue, one that intensifies in the shadow of big sports events. Women's Aid's campaign, 'No More Years of Hurt', steps forward with a quiet determination, aiming to highlight the silent battles fought behind closed doors. They're banking on the power of well-known football slogans to trigger a much-needed dialogue. If you are someone who experiences the ugly side of a football game. There are people to help: National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 for free confidential information and support Black Country Women's Aid on 0121 553 0090 (Monday to Friday 9 am to 5pm) Outside office hours 0121 552 6448. Working alongside Ask Marc on 0121 289 6402 supporting men. Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), or visit the webchat at Men's Advice Line (Wednesday 10 am to 11.30am and 2.30 pm to 4pm) ManKind on 0808 800 1170 (Monday to Friday 10am t0 4pm) or on the helpline 01823 334 244 LGBT+ contact Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support Children and Young People call NSPCC on 0800 11 11 Worried about someone seeing you've been here click Cover Your Tracks If you are in need of support. I am here for you. |