Researchers at Lancaster University studied incidents of domestic abuse during World Cup matches in 2002, 2006 and 2010 and found a 38 per cent rise on days when the England team played and lost, and a 26 per cent rise when England won or drew – Newstatesman
..
You’ve been practicing how to pitch it
since you lost the first round; since
I take you, and, to have and to hold,
bitch, became his anthem.
..
Despite your best defensive moves,
pre-empting kick-offs, fending fouls,
obeying rules, you’ll still be beaten.
There are no equalisers in this mismatch.
..
You’ve learned not to tackle,
playing for time in the corridor
of uncertainty. This is a home game,
he’s in possession of screen and beer.
..
You huddle on the sidelines, sick
with fear that you’ll be picked on.
A poor substitute for the real thing,
you don’t bounce back. A skin sack
..
with the air kicked out concedes.
He inflates your uselessness with lager shots,
conflates your existence with bad luck,
pumps himself into a premier striker.
..
It’s a game of one half, the playing field,
uneven. You’re getting trounced.
The penalty – extra time for injury,
it’s his set piece – he’s bringing it home.
Reblogged this on reubenwoolley.
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