sobering statistics

What the World Cup Means for Abused Women

Domestic violence in England increases by as much as 38 percent when the national team loses a World Cup game, according to a harrowing PSA released yesterday following England’s post-elimination game against Costa Rica (they tied). Created by Tender Education and the Arts, a charity that combats domestic abuse, the video is based on a study by the University of Lancaster of the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cups, Jezebel reports. The correlation between abuse and soccer isn’t limited to losses: The study also found that when England won or tied, reported incidents of domestic violence rose by 26 percent.

What the World Cup Means for Abused Women