I recently became a White Ribbon champion. It’s something I’ve thought of doing for a while and I finally got round to it. I’m very vocal about my recent decision to pivot my business and become a menopause champion and to me, becoming a White Ribbon champion is a natural progression.
What is White RIbbon?
In case you don’t know what a White Ribbon champion is, White Ribbon UK is the country’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. The White Ribbon Promise is a personal commitment to never use, excuse, or remain silent about men’s violence against women. Men are specifically encouraged to make the Promise, but anyone can.
White Ribbon Champions are women (and people who don’t identify as men) who promote the message, hold men accountable, and make sure women’s voices are heard in this conversation. If you’d like to find out more or make the Promise yourself, please go to whiteribbon.org.uk.
Football’s Coming Home…
I’m writing about this now, as we’re just days away from the (men’s) football world cup – it starts next Thursday in fact. For many, this means a few drinks down the pub with friends, maybe an office sweepstake (anyone else always get the team which is eliminated first?!) and a lot of optimism that this year, finally, football is coming home. However, there is a darker side that emerges every time England play in a major tournament, and it’s backed by research.
A Lancaster University study, which looked at police-reported domestic abuse incidents across the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cups, found that reported incidents rose by 38% on days when England lost a match, and by 26% even when England won or drew. The day after a match still showed an 11% increase.
During the 2024 Euros, Greater Manchester Police recorded a 30% rise in domestic abuse reports on England game days. The Metropolitan Police saw a 28% increase. In the West Midlands, reports rose by 35% during knockout-stage matches. And during the 2022 World Cup, Sussex Police reported that 999 calls relating to domestic abuse doubled on match days.
It’s important to say that football does not cause domestic abuse. These figures are not about football fans. What they show, however, is that existing abuse intensifies. The combination of high emotion, prolonged alcohol consumption, gambling, and the pressure-cooker atmosphere of tournament football creates conditions in which abuse already happening in a home can escalate.
Alcohol is another key factor. A West Midlands Police study, using ten years of crime data, found a 47% increase in alcohol-related domestic abuse reports on days when England wins a match. The same study found no significant increase in non-alcohol-related cases, which tells us something important about what’s really behind this.
Then There’s the Heat…
Summer adds another layer. Research published in 2023 found that domestic violence rates increased with warmer weather, and continued to rise even in extreme heat, when other types of violent crime actually declined as people moved indoors. The effect of heat was found to be greater on domestic violence than on any other category of violent crime.
Longer days, school holidays, children at home, cramped spaces, disrupted routines, all of these raise stress levels inside households. Combined with a month of football and elevated drinking, and a genuine perfect storm is created.
In the UK, 72% of victims of domestic abuse-related crimes recorded by police are women. The National Centre for Domestic Violence estimates that one in five adults experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. These are not small numbers. These are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues, and sometimes, ourselves.
What Can You Do?
You don’t need to become a White Ribbon champion to make a difference (though you absolutely can) and there are things all of us can do.
Know the signs. Domestic abuse is not always physical. It includes controlling behaviour, financial abuse, emotional manipulation, isolation, and coercive control. It can be subtle and gradual.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong with someone you know, it probably is. You don’t need proof to reach out with kindness.
Say something. Silence protects abusers. A simple “I’ve noticed you seem a bit down lately. Are you okay?” can open a door to a conversation.
Share the numbers. If you know someone who might need help:
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge): 0808 2000 247 — free, confidential, 24/7
- Women’s Aid: womensaid.org.uk
- Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327 (because it happens to men too)
- In an emergency, always call 999
A Final Word
For me, becoming a White Ribbon champion doesn’t mean I have all the answers, but it does mean that I stand up for women, and this blog is intended to start a conversation and share support that is out there. If you’re a man, please consider becoming a White Ribbon Ambassador, signing the promise, and calling out bad behaviour when you see it. We have a long summer ahead of us, we’ve already had some fabulous weather, and now the tournament is around the corner, let’s all enjoy it with dignity and respect, ensuring that the women in our lives are safe.