Football’s biggest fixtures sparking huge spikes in domestic violence across the country as police fear boozed-up fans are attacking partners and children
A Sun investigation reveals how many of the biggest games in British football hold a darker side away from the stadium
FOOTBALL derby games are sparking huge rises in domestic violence as police fear drunk fans are attacking their partners and children - The Sun Online can reveal.
Old Firm derby clashes between Celtic and Rangers see the biggest surge in domestic attacks - and Police Scotland are on red alert ahead of this weekend's game.
Many of the biggest fixtures in British football also hold a darker side away from the stadium in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool.
Domestic attacks have rocketed by as much as 60 per cent around some games over the last two seasons.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from nine police forces covering Britain's biggest footballing rivalries show an average 21 per cent rise on derby days.
Police and victims - including one woman who had her ear bitten off by her boyfriend in a post-game attack - have told Sun Online how heavy boozing and aggressive support can climax in sickening attacks on loved-ones.
Old Firm derbies saw the biggest increase with a 27 per cent rise in domestic attacks compared to a normal weekend day.
The day of Celtic's 2-0 Scottish Cup Semi-Final victory over Rangers at Hampden Park in April saw 52 per cent more incidents than the previous Sunday across Scotland.
Gordon McCreadie, Police Scotland Detective Superintendent for Domestic Violence, said: "We acknowledge there is often a rise in domestic abuse incidents on significant match days and this is commonly associated with increased alcohol consumption.
"It is not acceptable and those who harm or threaten to harm others will be brought to justice.
"We acknowledge it is under-reported and we encourage victims of all communities to come forward and report it."
Figures obtained by Sun Online show there was an average of 174 incidents on derby days across the nine police forces.
The same forces saw an average of 144 reports on an average weekend day and 128 across the week.
Louisa Rolfe, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Domestic Abuse told Sun Online links between football and domestic abuse are being investigated across the UK.
She said: “Police forces work closely with football clubs and charities to plan for any potential increase in violence on match days.
"Where we can identify a direct connection with football violence, forces will explore all options available to not only address the domestic abuse but curtail their offending behaviour as a football fan too.
"We do know that factors such as drinking alcohol excessively and participating in violent offending can be linked to domestic abuse."
The biggest spike for an individual game was a 61 per cent surge on the day of the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool in October 2015.
There were a total of 50 domestic violence reports compared to 31 on an average weekend day and 29 on a normal day.
Northumbria Police also saw a 26 per cent rise in offences around Newcastle v Sunderland games.
There is often a rise in domestic abuse incidents on significant match days and this is commonly associated with alcohol
Det Supt Gordon McCreadie, Police Scotland
Greater Manchester Police saw an increase in reports on the day of four out of five Manchester derbies.
Across nine forces who policed derbies in England's top two divisions over the last two seasons, only Lancashire Police saw a drop in domestic violence during its main derby match - Burnley v Blackburn.
Domestic violence charities said football and heavy drinking around major fixtures can be a trigger for abuse.
Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge, said: “We know that some police forces see an increase in reports of domestic violence during major football fixtures.
"Football – and the alcohol that tends to go with it – can be an aggravating factor when it comes to domestic violence, but it is not the root cause.
"Domestic violence is a choice perpetrators make; and the vast majority of men who enjoy football do not choose to abuse their partners."
Amanda Major, head of clinical practice at Relate, said: "Whilst these figures seem to show an increase in cases of domestic violence on derby days, we must be careful not to blame football or even alcohol.
"People need to be aware of their own behaviour and take responsibility for their own actions - domestic violence is never OK."
'My boyfriend bit my ear off after big match drinking session'
Gemma Dykins thought her snarling, screaming boyfriend was the last thing she would ever see as he clasped his hands around her throat.
Moments before he had bitten her ear off in a drunken rage which left her needing reconstructive surgery and too frightened to live alone.
Thug David Barr had been drinking all day ahead of England's World Cup game against Italy in June 2014 before flying into a violent rage.
He broke Gemma's jaw with a punch which left her drifting in and out of consciousness before repeatedly kicking her on the floor and sinking his teeth into her ear.
Gemma, from Mold, Flintshire, said she slowly realised through their eight-month relationship Barr would turn from the "gentleman" she had met to someone with "vicious temper" after drinking alcohol.
She says football is not to blame for her ordeal, but that the drinking culture around the sport can trigger attacks by animals like Barr.
She said: "The game was at around 11pm and he'd been drinking all day - it was any excuse really.
"Just before the match kicked off he was becoming more and more agitated, then I got a message on my phone and he flew into a massive rage and knocked the phone out of my hand.
"He punched my face and I hit my head hard on the kitchen tiles as I went down, then he kicked me from head to toe.
"I was going in and out of consciousness and I don't remember him biting my ear but I came round and he had his hands clasped around my throat strangling me. I thought he was going to kill me."
Gemma was too scared to call police but was saved by a friend who reported Barr. When six officers arrived at her door, she told them everything and watched in relief as her thug partner was taken away.
Gemma, 39, says the drinking culture and aggression around football means it's "no surprise" domestic violence surges around big fixtures.
She said: "There's so much drinking around football when it's on and men get so passionate about it, tensions and aggression runs high and obviously that can be a dangerous cocktail.
"It's not an excuse - I'm a football fan and I wouldn't do that to someone. But people who have a tendency towards domestic violence have this simmering under the surface and the alcohol and the passion and frustration can bring that to the surface.
"The consequences go far beyond the physical injuries. I owned my own home and was an independent woman but I've had to move back in with my mum now because I'm too scared to live alone.
"No-one should have to go through that."
Barr was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at Mold Crown Court in August 2014.
He was released from prison last month.
What should you do if you're a domestic violence victim?
If you are a victim of domestic violence there are a number of authorities and charities who can help you.
Some immediate options may be to:
- Report the violence to police
- Leave home temporarily, or permanently
- Stay in your home and get the person who is harming you to leave
Most police forces have Domestic Violence Units or Community Safety Units with specially trained officers to deal with domestic violence and abuse.
You should call 999 in an emergency or 101 in a non-emergency or you can attend a police station in person to report an incident.
If the police arrest and charge a perpetrator, they will decide whether to keep them in custody or release them on bail.
There will usually be conditions attached to their bail to protect you from further violence and abuse.
Women’s Aid Refuges are safe houses run by and for women suffering domestic violence provide somewhere safe for women and their children to stay and allow some time and space for the woman to think about what to do next.
For a longer-term solution, Women's Aid can help victims contact . and
There are a number of other domestic violence charities, including , and which offer advice and support for domestic violence victims.
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