[REVISION HISTORY]

Football matches and domestic violence in Brazil

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2026-08-11 19:23 UTC → 2026-08-12 00:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Research in Brazil has identified a correlation between football matches and increases in domestic violence. An initial study of Serie A matches between 2015 and 2019 found a 6% increase in reported incidents in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro during the six hours following unexpected home-team defeats. In response, the “Respeito que Protege” initiative was launched to use sports as a platform for prevention through educational campaigns, stadium messaging, and partnerships with civil-society groups and law enforcement. A subsequent study by the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP) covering 2023 to 2025 across five major capitals reported even sharper increases. The data showed a 27.4% rise in recorded threats and a 28.8% increase in bodily injuries on match days. The research noted that young women aged 15 to 29 are particularly vulnerable, experiencing a 44% increase in both categories. The study also highlighted that violence occurs primarily within the home and noted specific disparities affecting Black women. The FBSP recommended integrating football match schedules into public security and prevention policies. A second edition of the ‘Football and Violence Against Women’ study, released by the FBSP, confirmed these trends across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, and Porto Alegre. The updated data shows bodily injury reports rose by approximately 28.9% and threats increased by 27.4% on match days. Researchers emphasized that football acts as a “temporal marker that can catalyze existing violent behaviors” rather than being the direct cause. Juliana Brandão, the FBSP Gender and Race Coordinator, suggested that security forces use this data to reinforce specialized police units and protective measure patrols on match days, while calling on football clubs to act as strategic allies in promoting social change.

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