Welcome to another week.

The latest figures on domestic violence incidents occurring around major football tournaments suggest that there has been a significant rise in domestic abuse around the time of this year’s World Cup. 

The key stats:

• More than 60 incidents were reported after England’s semi-final defeat by Croatia, compared to the highest figure of 24 during Euro 2016.
• Around 1,340 of the total 1,487 football-linked reported incidents (90%) were in relation to England’s seven games between 14 June and 15 July.

A study published in February 2018 argues that football is not responsible for the increase in violence, and suggests instead that the matches are a symptom rather than a cause of underlying behaviours.

One of the co-authors, Dr Nancy Lombard,  who is a Reader in Sociology and Social Policy at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “All stakeholders had concerns about the reliability and implications of data suggesting a causal link between football and domestic violence and abuse.

“Participants highlighted concerns about the existing evidence and the need to view violence and abuse as a pattern of ongoing behaviour, which cannot be reduced to an incident associated with a particular event such as a football match.”

Whilst the researchers were unable to find a link to the sport and domestic violence incidents, football culture could be to blame. British football fans have cultivated a reputation worldwide for hooliganism, which has come to be known as The English Disease. While incidents of violence amongst British football fans have decreased over the years, an alarming number of fans who are considered highly dangerous remain active. 

Our question this week then, is just this: what do you think causes a spike in domestic violence during football matches?