KATHRYN BATTE: Eni Aluko does not speak for all fans by claiming UK stadiums are ‘not safe for women’… but football must recognise and support those who have experienced abuse

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had a bad experience attending a football match – that is, if you don’t count the times I’ve seen my team lose, which is a regular occurrence.

There are three experiences from my childhood following Hull City that left me feeling a little scared. There was an awkward moment this season when I came across two men in the women’s toilets at QPR – the less said about that the better. But I’d say 95 percent of my experience watching football as a fan has been problem-free.

Needless to say, your own experience won’t be the same as anyone else’s and vice versa, but Eni Aluko’s comment that stadiums are ‘not safe for women’ seems to have triggered quite a few people this week.

Just as Aluko does not speak for all female fans, no one should ridicule or invalidate anyone else’s personal experiences.

Just because you may not have had the displeasure of experiencing abuse, physical or verbal, during a football match doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

There’s a reason why Her Game Too was founded in 2021. The anti-sexism group was founded in May 2021 by a group of female football fans with a video showing female football fans showing sexist abuse they received from football fans.

Abuse on social media is undoubtedly more common than in stadiums and appears to be increasing worryingly. But there are examples of serious problems on the terraces.

One fan, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mail Sport how they were attacked and abused while attending a match at their club’s stadium.

‘I’ve had men shout in my face, I’ve had men kiss me celebrating a goal that wasn’t welcomed or responded to.

‘I have been touched and groped on days away from work. I experience the same thing in pubs around football.

‘I have been abused on social media for simply expressing an opinion about football. One man on a pitch once got so irritated he said, “Stick to netball”, I hadn’t even said a word, he was so furious with the then manager.

“While I think stadiums are generally pretty safe for women, there’s still a reason why Her Game Too exists. Just because not all women see or experience it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

‘One experience scared me so much that I didn’t return to my season ticket seat for five to six games. I chose to sit in a different booth with a friend who had a spare ticket next to him.

Anti-sexism group Her Game Too launched a video in 2021 showing female football fans showing sexist abuse they received from football fans

It is important that football recognizes and supports fans who experience abuse during matches

‘I know so many similar stories to mine, from other women I know. We always have to prove ourselves to men to show that we are worthy of playing in football – our knowledge of the laws or of our team, whatever it may be.

“It’s like we have to fight for the right to be there.”

Football can always do more for its supporters, whether they are women, disabled fans, young children or the elderly.

While Aluko’s comments may not apply to every female football fan in the country, it is important that we acknowledge and support those who have experienced abuse during matches – and report it when we see it. Football should be an environment in which everyone feels safe to participate.