Reform MP slammed over 'irresponsible' claim England must ‘keep winning’ at World Cup to stop domestic abuse

Warning: This article contains discussion of domestic violence, which some readers may find distressing.

A Reform MP has sparked major controversy online after claiming that England must 'keep winning' at the World Cup to stop domestic abuse.

Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, took to X on Thursday (18 June), the day after England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in their tournament debut, to share a video saying: "England won the football last night, and thank goodness they did.

"Because on the occasions that England loses their football matches, the incidences of domestic violence go through the roof. So boys, keep winning.”

She captioned the clip: "For the sake of women’s safety, we need England to keep winning [England flag emoji]."

According to Women's Aid research referenced by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), domestic abuse incidents reported to police increased by 38 per cent when England lost a match.

However, Pochin's highly 'irresponsible' remarks don't even weigh up, given that data shows that whether England win or lose doesn't matter as domestic abuse incidents reported to police still increased by 26 per cent even when the team won.

Responding to her statements, Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: "Football does not cause domestic abuse – it is a choice that is made by the abuser, time and again, regardless of whether a team wins or loses a match.

"Research tells us that domestic abuse does rise during championships, but this is the case whether the team wins or loses.

"It is irresponsible to suggest that a team’s success is responsible for whether a man commits domestic abuse or not.

"We also know that it is a pattern of behaviour that repeats and escalates over time, and not something that happens as a result of one match.

"Whether England wins, loses, or draws, no woman or child should live in fear of that final whistle blow.

"We hope that through our new campaign, we will be able to help raise awareness of this heinous crime, while also signposting people to support, not only for themselves, but for loved ones they’re concerned about."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the charity Refuge added: "Refuge is deeply concerned by a highly inappropriate social media post from Sarah Pochin MP suggesting that England should win more men’s football World Cup matches to reduce domestic abuse.

"This is not only misleading, but could allow perpetrators to evade accountability.

"We must be clear: football is never an excuse for domestic abuse, and perpetrators cannot continue to be shielded by the myth that football directly causes abuse.

"While major sports tournaments can exacerbate pre-existing behaviours, abuse happens all year round, often hidden and unreported.

"Abusers may use football or alcohol intake as an excuse, but there is never any justification for domestic abuse. It is the abuser’s actions alone that are to blame – not external events or circumstances. It is a choice, and it must be challenged.

"As the World Cup continues, it is more vital than ever that we shift the narrative and give domestic abuse the red card. To show your support for survivors, take action with Refuge now."

Tyla has reached out to Sarah Pochin for comment.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.