Peterborough Women’s Aid Warns: “Don’t Blame the World Cup for Domestic Abuse”
Charity urges focus on perpetrators, not football or alcohol
As the World Cup gets underway, a Peterborough charity is warning against linking the tournament to a rise in domestic abuse.
Mandy Geraghty from Peterborough Women’s Aid says it’s important not to give abusers an excuse by blaming football or drinking.
“I think abusers do use the World Cup as an excuse and the drinking culture around it."
"Football and the World Cup should be a time for celebration, and it’s really sad that people do use this amazing occasion to excuse domestic abuse,” Mandy says.
She warns that connecting the tournament to abuse can be dangerous.
“If we link the World Cup to domestic abuse, perpetrators have an excuse—‘well, it was World Cup, well, I was drinking’—when actually, there’s no excuse for abusive behaviour."
"There are lots of men and women out there that enjoy the World Cup and have a drink and they don’t end up abusing their partners.”
Mandy’s message is clear:
“We have to be really careful that we are not blaming the World Cup for abuse when it is actually the perpetrator’s responsibility."
"The alcohol is not an excuse for abuse—perpetrators still know what they are doing and it is not your fault. Alcohol is not to blame. Football is not to blame—perpetrators are.”