Football and Domestic Violence...

[Sharkology]

AIBU to expect that at this stage in the European whatever it is, there should be more promotion of DV resources and support nationally given the huge rises in DV incidences that occur when England play?

Shouldn't the team be openly taking the stance against DV as they are against BLM (I am happy for that by the way), but surely they could do a DV campaign too.

YABU - No they don't need to speak out about it
YANBU - More people do need to speak out about it and offer support and resource ideas.

Whilst I don’t doubt that football, especially when the team loses causes a marked increase in domestic violence, I’m not sure the players doing a campaign is the best idea.
Have you seen the sneering rage on the faces of those ‘fans’ who boo whilst the players are taking the knee? It’s genuinely terrifying. Imaging riling up those likely to abuse their partner the same way. Imagine the anger if the team lose and ‘the players had spent time focusing on making an anti domestic violence stance, instead of concentrating on the game’ (absolutely not my view. But abusers will use any excuse.) I know the intentions are good, but I think it could have a very damaging effect.

I do believe there should be more information about domestic violence support publicised around the matches though.

I agree, the booing is terrifying - so maybe not the team, but a nationwide campaign - there must have been such an increase of money each time they get to a next stage so surely some funding could come from that / ticket sales etc.

Football doesn’t cause domestic abuse - men do - including ones who like golf, cricket and rugby

Everyone should take a stance against it

I think if anything the players should be making less stances against x/y/z, not more. They're there to play football (or whatever other sport), they are not "role models" or "ambassadors" and certainly not the people to drive societal change.

I don't know the actual stats for DV increase during England matches but certainly know there's a huge problem in Glasgow after the Rangers/Celtic games. The people who need to act are the politicians, not the footballers themselves. Only politicians have the power to stop domestic violence, by giving the police the power to stop it and ensuring the courts deal with it properly.

A footballer making some gesture to say "don't beat up the missus when you get home tonight" isn't going to do much good. The sort of person who violently abuses their partner isn't going to suddenly think, "shit, I didn't know bashing the wife's skull in isn't a very nice thing to do." The only answer is locking them up.

One positive about the matches though is that while their abuser is down the pub getting smashed, it's a perfect opportunity for the victim to pack their bags and get help.

One positive about the matches though is that while their abuser is down the pub getting smashed, it's a perfect opportunity for the victim to pack their bags and get help.

Isn't that a good reason for linking an anti-DV campaign to football matches? Not necessarily players speaking out, but a government backed campaign with links to resources for women, and increased funding, to tie in with the huge amount of publicity the football is currently enjoying. The increase in DV around football matches should not be secret or brushed under the carpet. It should be made very public, alongside the resources available to support women.

Very very good point. Totally agree with OP.

Did the DV awareness campaigns around the last World Cup actually achieve anything? I remember seeing posters up all over the place about it, together with the numbers to call.

If there wasn't a measurable increase in women seeking help and a decrease in incidences/hospitalisation, I don't think that footballers (hardly paragons of virtue where it comes to the treatment of young women, by the way) saying 'beating up your girlfriend is bad, Mmm-kay?' will achieve anything.