New research aims to shed light on any links between football and domestic abuse.
While at least two academic studies have found evidence for a rise in domestic violence after Old Firm ties between Rangers and Celtic, when the two Glasgow clubs recently met for the first time in three years police recorded only a marginal increase in incidents.
The £23,000 feasibility study by Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) in association with the universities of Glasgow and Bristol will investigate whether there is a problem across football in England and Scotland, by talking to clubs, police, and community liaison officers as well as victims of domestic violence and the support groups who work with them.
As well as helping gather evidence on the possible link with football it will also explore the best ways of meeting the needs of women affected by domestic abuse.
The four month project is funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, a charity which supports projects which have a focus on the prevention of human suffering and social aspects of unemployment and crime.
The project will interview experts in domestic violence and abuse to establish whether women are regularly seeking help for domestic abuse following football matches.
The team will explore perspectives of practitioners and victims about the way football affects their lives and relationships, and will work with those affected to find out what further research is likely to help.
Dr Nancy Lombard, Reader in Sociology and Social Policy at GCU, along with researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Bristol, Dr Oona Brooks and Dr Emma Williamson, will carry out the work.
Dr Lombard said: "The proposed study is innovative, original and seeks to further knowledge of a real-life problem, that of the global phenomenon of men's violence against women.
"This research will be the first in-depth investigation into the apparent links between football and rising incidents and reports of domestic violence and abuse. I am very excited to be a part of it."
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