Kicking off: Is the association between the FIFA world cup and domestic abuse an international phenomenon?
| Published date | 01 June 2022 |
| Date | 01 June 2022 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X211007182 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
2022, Vol. 95(2) 378 –390
Article
Kicking off: Is the association
between the FIFA world cup
and domestic abuse an
international phenomenon?
Stuart Kirby
Crime Insights Ltd, Aughton, Lancashire, UK
Nathan Birdsall
School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire,
Preston, Lancashire, UK
Abstract
This study examines whether increases in incidents of female domestic abuse occur
during FIFA world cup tournaments, in countries, other than the UK. Columbian medical
records providing national daily counts, relating to Violence Against Women (VAW) and
females subject to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), across two world cup tournaments
(2014/2018) were analysed. The number of medical examinations rose by 43% (VAW)
and 39% (IPV) during the 2014 Columbia match days, and 26% (VAW) and 27% (IPV)
during the 2018 match days,when compared to non-match days (p < .001). The increases
were higher on a weekend and when winning, rather than losing.
Keywords
Domestic abuse, football
Introduction
Eradicating domestic abuse is a priority for many governments and focuses the attention
of numerous academics, law enforcement and victim support groups. Whilst much of the
research emphasises individual and socio-structural accounts (Robinson, 2010), this
study looks at how situational factors (specifically the FIFA football world cup
Corresponding author:
Stuart Kirby, Crime Insights Ltd, Aughton L395QL, UK.
Email: skirby@crimeinsights.ltd
The Police Journal:
Theory, Practice and Principles
ªThe Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211007182
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