Sheffield given £67m boost to build two new neighbourhoods
Homes England have announced that it will be kickstarting the transformation of Furnace Hill and Neepsend with a £67m boost.
The project is expected to provide 1,300 homes in the city centre.
The developments will also include a network of public spaces and streets to improve connections between the city centre and Kelham Island.
Tax cuts expected in new budget
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce tax cuts in the upcoming budget on Wednesday, including a further cut to national insurance.
The Conservative government are under significant pressure to regain confidence in voters following another by-election loss in Rochdale.
The New Economics Foundation has warned that Hunt's measures could push a further 55,000 people into poverty.
Other measures such as removing non-dom tax status are also being considered.
“We’re probably Sheffield’s best kept secret”: Charities to help disadvantaged families with childcare costs
Two charities have launched a new partnership to subsidise the cost of a week's sports camp in the school holidays for families in need.
Kings Active Foundation has partnered with Mums In Need, a charity that supports women who have left abusive relationships, to subsidise 90% of the cost of a week’s sports camp for 20 families.
A week-long sports camp at Kings Active Foundation normally costs around £240 a week but this subsidy will make the total cost under £20 per child.
Membership Manager, Caroline Coulthard, 34, said the charity aims to make sure children can come to a camp regardless of their financial situation.
She said: “It’s such a pleasure for us to see the difference that it is making in children’s and families’ lives and knowing we’re an option for them every school holiday.
“It’s an incredible thing to be a part of.”
Both charities hope these camps will give mothers the respite they need, while giving their children the chance to develop their confidence and new skills.
To apply for a subsidised place, families would normally need to fill in a form about their circumstances and income and then a panel would discuss their application, but this new partnership means Mums In Need will be referring families.
Case co-ordinator at Mums In Need, Nicola Rickwood, 40, said some of the women that come to the charity have suffered economic abuse and been left in debt by their ex-partners, so would not be able to afford this otherwise.
She said: “The women we’re supporting, we want them to thrive.
“We want to be that hope and that freedom to better themselves and their children, to start moving on and thinking about their future.”
While originally formed in Sheffield, Kings Active now has camps nationwide, and have been running their Supporting Families program for 15 years, aiming to help disadvantaged families access their camps.
Their goal is to have 3.5% of their UK camp places funded through the program and they are also trying to provide around 10,000 children a year with free activity sessions in schools across the country.
CEO Andrew Busby, 44, said: “It’s why we exist and it’s just what we do every day.
“We’re probably Sheffield’s best kept secret.”
Sheffield man travelled the world giving out hundreds of bottles of Henderson’s relish
A man from Sheffield spent £2,000 giving out free bottles of Henderson’s relish to people he met, from Norway to China.
Stephen Burke started his mission in 2006 to share the Sheffield staple whilst working as a Royal Navy Sailor.
Mr Burke, a 43-year-old Civic Office Manager, said: “There’s a lot of Henderson’s knocking around the world now thanks to me.”
During his first deployment, he visited 21 countries and decided to stockpile several hundred bottles of Henderson’s on the ship.
At every stop, all around the Mediterranean, Black Sea, through the Suez Canal and into the Arabian Gulf, he gave as many people as he could a bottle of the relish.
He said: “There was always a box of it in my locker or in my cabin.”
He decided to take Henderson's with him on his deployment because it’s one of the things he associates with growing up in Sheffield.
He said: “It was always a staple on the dining table, and I attach Henderson’s with the sentimental idea of being warm and cosy.
"It’s something you can talk about, which then allows you to talk about the city, which I am incredibly proud of.
“I totted up just before I left the Navy in 2021, I visited 151 countries and I’d say at least two thirds of these have had a bottle of Henderson’s Relish delivered to them by myself.”
He has continued his mission to share Henderson’s in his new job at the Civic Office.
Three bottles of the relish can even be found in the “Made in Sheffield” cabinet in the town hall, thanks to Mr Burke.
"Made in Sheffield" cabinet at Town Hall
He said: “Without having them in there, it wouldn’t be right."
As part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, he gave some bottles of Henderson’s to a delegation from Chengdu in China.
He also gave some to a South Korean delegation and a mayor from a Norwegian town.
Mr Burke said he has given out close to 1,000 bottles of Henderson’s relish over the years.
He has only been in his current role for four months but has already given out around 60 bottles.
When asked the cost of this, he said: “Not a small amount, I dare say, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s money well spent as far as I’m concerned.”
He admitted he had likely spent upwards of £2,000.
“I don’t even look at the price, I just buy the stuff," he said.
His favourite meals to have with Henderson’s relish are Shephard’s pie, spaghetti bolognese, and his most recent discovery of Henderson’s in mushy peas. He recommends everybody tries Henderson’s relish with a korma.
He said: “Other than jelly and ice cream, it goes with pretty much anything.
"It’s quite fun to be able to meet lots of different people in this job, like I did previously, and still get to tell people about the amazing things Sheffield has.
"I could spend the rest of my life talking about how amazing Sheffield is, and how amazing some of the people who live here are."
Sheffield rent and council tax increases impact those who are struggling the most
Sheffield City Council has confirmed a tax increase of 4.99% along with several other changes to commence from April 2024.
These changes include 7.7% increases in council rent, rent for temporary accommodation and garage plots and sites. The burglar alarm charge, sheltered housing service charge and furnished accommodation charge will also be raised by 6.7%.
A mum-of-two from Foxhill, who has been living in a rat-infested council home for the last two years, expressed frustration at the increase. She spoke to the Sheffield Wire on the condition of anonymity.
She said: “It is a joke getting charged more when the majority of council properties are in disrepair."
“I would prefer not to be in a council property but unfortunately I have no choice."
In January, Shelter England and HSBC produced a blog that revealed that “40% of people fear housing pressures will worsen in 2024”.
The report also found that families with children are more likely to have experienced a housing concern in the past year compared to adults without children.
Sharon Weatherstone, a local resident, expressed her disappointment, stating: "It’s disgusting, especially for older folk who can hardly live as it is.
“We could end up being homeless. That is what happening today. With children as well, it’s not fair on them."
A research report published by Shelter documented the scale of homelessness in England in 2023.
It stated: “Homelessness in England is at a record high and is continuing to rise."
One type of homelessness included in the report was 'people who have been accepted as homeless and are now living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local council'. This coincides with the temporary accommodation rent increase of 7.7%.
An anonymous source expressed their concern for those struggling to make ends meet. They said: “I am sickened that the central government is strangling councils like this."
“There are people just on the cusp, they’re not eligible for house benefit or council tax benefit and even a tiny percentage increase is not budgetable and something else will have to give."
Local resident Sue said: “I feel bad for those people who are badly affected by the cost of living but somebody has to pay for the services, and that got to be us."
Council tax on second homes and long term empty homes is set to increase by up to 100%
Sheffield City Council has announced new powers to double council tax on second homes and start charging on homes left empty for over a year.
The additional council tax will bring in an estimated £1.1 million in the first year for the authority to spend on essential services, which is seen as the ‘first step in supporting the most vulnerable people in Sheffield.'
Previously, property was only labelled 'long term empty' after two years but the change in policy means that from April 2024 this has been reduced to one.
The tax on second homes will come into effect by April 2025 and will apply to houses that are furnished, with no resident frequently living in the home, for example, holiday homes.
This includes homes that are uninhabitable due to major works or residencies that are unoccupied but furnished between tenancies.
Jack Probet, 30, said: “I don’t think it’s fair to tax people double just because they’ve worked hard enough to afford a second home.”
But Richard Kiernan, 38, said: “This is absolutely the right move, second home owners and empty properties are a major factor in the housing issues in the UK.”
One Reddit user from Sheffield, @HelicopterFar1433, believed this new policy did not go far enough. They said: “We have a housing crisis and, at exactly the same time a huge chunk of our housing remains unoccupied, I’d be in favour of this going a lot further.”
Councillor Zahira Naz, the chair of the finance policy committee, said it has been a hard decision for the council to make but one that they believe is necessary to encourage people to put their empty properties up for rent or sale.
She said: “I can understand why this is difficult for people, but we are doing this so that empty homes can be put to a more productive use.
“This is the first step in making sure we are supporting the most vulnerable people in Sheffield.”
This new legislation will not apply to houses left empty due to the owner being in hospital or a care home. Homes left empty after the death of the person liable are also exempt.
Cllr Naz said the council had not yet decided what the extra £1.1 million would be spent on.
She said: “We've had 14 years of austerity and cuts from the Government, it's been a challenging year and we have challenging years ahead.
"This is not a life changing amount to continue running the services we do, but it will help.”
Sheffield United fans’ beloved Barrel Inn to return as takeaway
Sheffield Council have accepted a planning application to turn a historic Highfield pub beloved by Sheffield United fans into a takeaway bar and grill.
Planning permission for D’ahni’s Bar and Grill was granted despite concerns raised in one objection over the late opening hours and potential for anti-social behaviour.
The takeaway on London Road will be open until 4am on Friday and Saturday and will stay open until 1am on all other nights.
The applicant for D’ahni’s Bar and Grill said: “We spoke to the residents and they welcomed us into the local community. They want to see the place open and refurbished as a new establishment.
“We have put in a lot of work into trying to help the local community to grow," he added.
But a Highfield resident who objected to the new venue said she was concerned that a late night takeaway will only worsen problems regarding noise and violence in the area.
The establishment will employ security and keep in touch with police to help prevent crime. They will also have a dress code, meaning people wearing hoodies cannot enter.
Joint Chair of the Licensing Committee Cllr David Barker said: “We have to assume that you will run this business responsibly – we hope you do and we hope it’s a success.”
Many Sheffield United fans were sad to see The Barrel Inn pub close in late 2022 after the pub owners were unable to negotiate a new lease and were advised that the premises licence would not be renewed.
Council approves £14m facelift for iconic leisure centre
A leisure complex in Doncaster, which was once among the largest in Europe, is set to receive a multi-million-pound refurbishment.
The Dome Leisure Centre, located adjacent to Doncaster Racecourse, was initially given approval for £14.4m to be refurbished by the City of Doncaster Council’s Cabinet on 7 February.
Today, a Full Council meeting voted to approve its Capital Budget for the next four years, confirming the decision.
Speaking after the Cabinet approval earlier this month, Cllr Nigel Ball, Cabinet Minister for Public Health said: “This investment in leisure is vital and is a testament to our dedication to health and leisure at a time where other councils are closing venues.”
The Dome was opened in November 1989 by Princess Diana and formed the cornerstone of a new Doncaster suburb.
The completion of a nearby 50-acre man-made lake in the early 2000s catalysed development in the area which became known as Lakeside.
In 2011, the Dome became the centrepiece for the new Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust and the building was given Grade II-listed status by Historic England last year.
DCLT Chief Executive, Michael Hart, said: “We are thrilled that the City of Doncaster Council’s cabinet approved the funding for the refurbishment of Doncaster Dome.”
The refurbishment will largely centre around the Lagoons, the centre’s swimming complex. According to City of Doncaster Council, the Lagoons will be shut for about a year but other parts of the centre will remain open.
The investment makes up a notable chunk of the £193m set aside by the council for 2024/25. In total, almost £600m has been budgeted for the next year, excluding Housing Benefits.
Popular Sheffield BMXing spot celebrated at upcoming film festival
BMXers have been racing down dirt at Bolehills for 40 years, the journey has been captured on film and is due to be screened at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival in March.
Over the years the track has been host to generations of riders and even famous faces like Arctic Monkey's drummer Matt Helders.
Distilling 40 years of history into an hour long film is a hefty job that started by inviting the community to a nearby pub, The Walkley Cottage, to share their stories.
Ben Dransfield, creator of the film, said: "The amount of old film photography and old VHS video we got from the community was just insane.
"We could lay out years, dates and the process of the track like it was the memory of everyone that was in the room."
The highlight is the community behind the track, which is described in the film as a "living art project".
The film has interviews with Roger Bartimote, the founder of the track, and parents of Matt Helders as well as many other riders and community members whose lives have been impacted by Bolehills.
It was once an official race track, but as the sport has become more professional, the costs involved in meeting regulations has become too high.
Richard Baybutt, one of the core team that maintains the track, said: "Although it's not an official track the community aspect hasn't changed.
"Back in the race days, it brought families together and they raced and now it brings families together and they dig and ride and progress at their own pace."
Bolehills always needs more volunteers to help on dig days where the track is built and shaped.
Mr Dransfield hopes that the film makes more people aware of this community gem.
He said: "I'm hoping that it encourages people or convinces them that it is a special place to so many people.
"The film will give people a real pride in Sheffield and make them want to come and ride."
The festival is screening a shorter version of the film but as its premiere last year sold out its 250 ticket capacity, Mr Dransfield said that more screenings will be announced soon on their Instagram and Facebook.
“The people in Gaza are already fasting” – How the humanitarian disaster in Gaza will affect Palestinians during Ramadan
The sacred month of Ramadan is the most significant period in the Muslim calendar, but for those living in Palestine the observation is heavily overshadowed by the ongoing conflict with Israel.
What traditionally should be a period of spiritual rejuvenation, fasting and devotion, is being dominated by concern on what is happening to the 1.7 million Palestinians who have been displaced since the war broke out.
Conflict erupted after October 7, when Hamas fighters stormed a music festival, Israeli military sites and multiple Kibbutzim, in which at least 1,139 people were killed, and 250 people were taken hostage. Since then, nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory airstrikes and bombings. Approximately 4,600 Palestinians have been injured across the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
Leen Assaf, a social worker and recent graduate from Bethlehem University, says: "The war has affected everyone in Palestine profoundly. It's not just about physical safety; it's about the adverse effect of our social fabric, our mental well-being, and our sense of normality. When we eat, we think of those in Gaza - that are fasting before Ramadan has begun - struggling to find food. This year, our traditions will be different. We'll focus on giving charity, knowing that many families are suffering due to the conflict."
Those who celebrate Ramadan decorate their home with lights, as do others in the neighbourhood, with many people of different faiths coming over for dinner. This year, however, many of those who mark Ramadan fear it will not be possible for their celebrations and traditions to be the same - as it was before the war - due to the conflict.
Instead of celebrating, this year some plan to give to charity in aid of those affected by the conflict.
Rame Nabolse, a jeweller in Jerusalem's Old City, explains how Ramadan will be different for him this year "Access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, a central hub for our Ramadan prayers and gatherings, is often restricted. The Israeli authorities control what we can bring in during Ramadan, making it difficult to observe our rituals."
The businessman who hopes calm will prevail this year, shared the sentiment of community practices during Ramadan. "Usually, we host Iftar in the Al-Aqsa compound," he says. "Every family prepares food at home and brings it there [Al-Aqsa]. We, in Jerusalem, believe that in Ramadan our kitchen is a restaurant, our home is a hotel - life changes for us during our special month [Ramadan], and will stay that way forever."
"We face obstacles at every turn," Rame says, lamenting the restrictions imposed on religious practices throughout the year.
The Very Rev Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St. George's College Jerusalem added: "We are very concerned about the arrangements for Ramadan in Jerusalem this year and we fear that the Israelis will prohibit access to Al-Aqsa for many, many Muslims. This will also have an effect on Easter celebrations. The tight restrictions caused by the war means that day-to-day life for Palestinians, both Muslims and Christians is very severely impacted."
Rev Sewell has also spoken out on the broader impact on religious communities. "The conflict disrupts not only Muslim practices but also those of Christians," he says. "Tight restrictions and heightened tensions make it challenging to celebrate our respective festivals in peace.
"The restrictions last Easter, even before the war began, were very tight. The Israelis are restricting the number of Christians in the old city and in the church of the Holy Sepulchre for the historic annual service of Holy Fire. This is causing major upset and disruption to celebrations of Easter."
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has not only impacted those living in the area, but also people living in the occupied West Bank.
UNICEF'S Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa stated: "This year has been the deadliest year on record for children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with conflict-related violence reaching unprecedented levels."
A report released today by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, also revealed the catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity are reportedly intensifying across Gaza, with growing reports of families struggling to feed their children and a rising risk of hunger-induced deaths in Northern Gaza.
The Global Nutrition Cluster is reporting a steep rise in malnutrition among children, as food and safe water become increasingly scarce, and disease proliferates. In Northern Gaza, one in six children under the age of two (15.6 per cent) who were screened at shelters and health centres in January this year were found to be acutely malnourished. Prior to October 7, this figure was just 0.8 per cent.
Rev Sewell also warned that following the conflict, numerous shops in the Old City have closed. He continued: "The presence of soldiers and armed police in much higher numbers means that Palestinians do not feel it is safe to walk around in many parts of the city. Many people stay at home and their lives have shrunk. In the West Bank life is also incredibly difficult, because of the impact on the economy and restrictions caused by the occupation, running things very tightly, and not permitting people who used to work in Israel to come through the checkpoints."
As the conflict rages on, concerns mount about the toll on civilian lives. Historical data reveals a troubling pattern of violence during Ramadan, with casualties mounting in previous years' incidents including raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Prior to October 7 the most recent incident took place in April 2023 when Al Jazeera reported Israeli police officers attacked worshippers. This year's unrest amplifies fears of further escalation, casting a sombre shadow over the holy month.
What is Ramadan?
The month of Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic year as it is when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muslims around the world fast during daylight hours, meaning they abstain from eating, drinking or engaging in sexual relations for the duration of their fast. Young children, the old, the sick, travellers and women who are breastfeeding or menstruating are exempt from fasting.
Aside from fasting, Muslims observing Ramadan also increase their spiritual devotional acts through prayer, giving to charity and strengthening family ties. Muslims are encouraged to share their food with friends, family and neighbours and to reach out to those who may be fasting alone, to share their Ramadan experience.
Why do Muslims fast?
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. A key objective of fasting is to work towards an increase in Taqwa (closeness to God), and to engender a sense of gratitude, self-discipline and self-improvement, at both an individual and community level, which Muslims are encouraged to continue throughout the year. At an individual level, fasting encourages members of the Muslim community to feel an affinity with the poor across the world who have little or no food to eat. At a community level, the breaking of fast meal (Iftar) at sunset encourages families and local communities to share their meal together, whilst charity work in local communities typically increases during Ramadan.
From Sheffield to Sydney: 40 years of Rock and Roll photography with Tony Mott
A former Lowedges chef who became one of the most esteemed photographers in rock and roll, working with over 3,000 musicians including The Arctic Monkeys and Madonna, talks about his 40 years in the industry.
From touring with The Rolling Stones to having dinner on Paul McCartney's yacht, and being forced to shoot Blink-182 in a bathtub, Tony Mott reminisces about his time shooting some of the world's most famous bands.
"The reality is that I've shot thousands of bands and musicians," says Tony. "I've only met three a***holes, and that's after more than 40 years experience. They're not great time keepers, nor are they hugely reliable. But they're definitely not all a***holes."
The son of a steelworker, Tony, born in 1956, a loyal Blades fan, was raised in Lowedges. He lived in the city until he was 18, where he studied to become a French Chef in Granville Catering College and can recall clearly the 'buzz' of the Moor on a Saturday morning.
After qualifying as a chef, Tony worked in Surrey, before meeting an Australian girl and moving 'down under', but he soon discovered his real passion, and what would become his true calling in life, was photography.
Tony was introduced to what became his vocation by his childhood friend, Paul Mitchell, from Hackenthorpe, who worked on black and white portraits. He taught Tony how to process and print photographs, and this was the start of his lifelong love of the art.
Despite being born and bred in Sheffield, Tony has spent most of his life in Australia, admitting when he returned to the city in the late 80s, while working with the band U2, he got lost. “That period, when all those steelworks disappeared, Sheffield changed radically. When I left in ’76, people, including my dad, worked in the steelworks. That was the industry. So, it's a hell of a shot to just be wondering around Attercliffe going to myself, ‘where the f**** has everything gone? You’ve got to remember, when I left, there was no Meadowhall or anything like that."
Although Tony moved away from Sheffield almost 50 years ago and may have lost his Yorkshire drawl, he’s never lost that classic, old school Northern sense of humour. The anecdotes he has are endless, and his delivery when telling them is as magnetic and entertaining as the world's best stand-up comedians. Referring to the Arctic Monkeys, he says: "The first time I worked with them, they asked me, ‘are you United or Wednesday then?' As soon as I said United, that was sort of the end of that relationship really - I guess they’re all Wednesday”.
In the early years after moving to Australia, Tony would take his camera into local pubs and photograph local bands. This is how he stumbled across the rock band Divinyls, known for their hit 'I touch myself' and went on to be a big success in Australia and the United States.
"I got lucky that they got famous when I was starting and so I rode their coattails to certain extent", Tony says. “I never really ever meant it to happen, it just happened. Being a chef was bloody hard work, but taking photos of musicians was fun," he added, with a smirk.
In 1987, Tony got his self-confessed 'big break' in the industry, when Mick Jagger landed in Australia on a solo tour and asked him to be his photographer. He toured with The Rolling Stones three times as well as working with Fleetwood Mac, Iggy Pop, Blink-182, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Madonna and Paul McCartney just to name a few.
Tony once spent an afternoon in Sydney harbour with Paul McCartney. "I was told by my management that I had to go and photograph Paul on the harbour in his boat." says Tony, "So you immediately think, 'Oh it's going to be some f***ing great big luxury yacht. But he just loves sailing and I ended up having lunch with him, and he told me how he misses double-decker buses. He was a lovely bloke."
Tony has also witnessed some hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, including finding Travis Barker, the drummer of American punk band, Blink-182, in a bathtub. "I did a front cover for Rolling Stone magazine," he says. "But Travis wasn't answering the door and hadn't come out of his room. He was so hungover in the bathtub of his hotel room that he quite literally couldn't get out of it. He's still, p****d, so I said, 'let's shoot it in there', so I got them all in and just shot them in the bathtub."
Tony reveals, though, sometimes, he was the cause of the mishap, including a time he forgot to put film in his camera during a session with Guns 'n' Roses. The rock group were at the pinnacle of their popularity and Tony spent the entire session disguising his mistake before confessing his rooky error. After the session, Tony had a chat with their manager, forming a cunning lie to save himself, "It worked out alright because the next day, I said to the manager, 'I'm not even gonna show you. They're not good enough'. So I managed to con another session out of them, I suppose!"
After four decades, Tony has now hung up his cameras, and retired from what he calls 'rock and roll photography', and is working in Australian television production.
"I've been doing it for 40 years. The best 40 years of rock and roll photography. It's all been a joy. I feel I've been quite blessed because making money, and good money out of photographing musicians is not something everyone gets to do."
Purchase Tony's book here: Rock N Roll Gallery: A Journey from Sheffield to Sydney 1983-2023: Amazon.co.uk: Mott, Tony: 9781922810748: Books
A Beautiful Game?: The harrowing connection between football and gender-based abuse
This summer will showcase Euro 2024 in Germany, but what does that mean for the women who might be on the receiving end of physical and psychological violence during and after the games.
According to the National Council for Domestic Violence there is a 26 per cent increase in reported incidents of domestic abuse when England plays, 38 per cent if they lose and 11 per cent the next day whether they win or lose.
Hollie Venn, Chief Executive of Sheffield Women’s Aid, says: "We have a pandemic of domestic abuse whereby two to three women on average are killed each week. We cannot and should not view incidents in isolation purely because someone is a “celebrity”. All perpetrators regardless of status should be held accountable."
Last week Sheffield Wednesday allowed German international, Nico Schulz, to train with the team even though he is due to make a court appearance this week after allegations of domestic violence against his former girlfriend who was pregnant at the time. When manager, Danny Rohl, was quizzed he did not elaborate on the club’s stance on the matter and said: “He is in training with us, he’s a training guest… it makes no sense to speak about the personal things of a player when he’s not actually signed with Sheffield Wednesday.”
Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals there were 1,500,000 cases of domestic abuse towards women in England and Wales for the year ending March 2023. However, according to Women’s Aid, most data on this topic only accounts for specific types of behaviour and in their view domestic abuse has to also be seen through the prism of power and control. These less explicitly violent forms, including coercive and financial control, are usually gender-based.
Ms Venn believes excuses are often made for the abusive behaviour of an abuser. She says: “I think it's a mistake to argue it away as people ‘just getting carried away’. There's a lot at stake, particularly thinking about World Cups. Again excusing behaviours of perpetrators and saying, ‘oh, well, you know, it was just that the emotions were really heightened’. Actually, perpetrators are very much in control of what they do. We don't see them ‘losing control’ to their employers or the police.”
The connection between the most watched sport in the world and gender-based abuse is further fuelled by the lack of action taken by those with great influence in football. One of the most famous football clubs, Manchester United, were embroiled in controversy last summer as their plans to reintegrate Mason Greenwood into their playing squad were revealed by The Athletic.
Mason Greenwood has not played for the team since January 2022 when recordings and images were released on social media of alleged sexual abuse of his girlfriend. The forward faced charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm - all of which he denied. Eventually, the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service due to “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material meant there was no longer realistic prospect of conviction”.
His club were then left with a decision to make, as he was still a contracted employee of Manchester United, and they had to decide what to do with Greenwood. The Athletic revealed there were detailed plans on how to bring him back into the spotlight without causing controversy. One of the more controversial details of the planning was how they anticipated domestic abuse charities to be “hostile” towards the club’s decision to restore Greenwood’s status as a Premier League footballer.
Ms Venn says: “Do you see it as acceptable as having people who are known domestic abusers, known sexual violence abusers in your organisations? Is that something you want to be associated with? Surely you would argue, no, it's not something you want to be associated with."
Manchester United eventually allowed Greenwood to leave on loan which many expected to be a permanent separation between the parties. But last week new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke openly about how there is still a chance for the 22-year-old at the club. He said: “The process will be: understand the facts not the hype and then try and come to a fair decision on the basis of values which is basically is he a good guy or not.”
In a country where, according to Refuge, one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, those with status are setting a dangerous precedent for those who view them as role models. The fan group, ‘Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return’, were staunch in their disapproval of the players' return.
The group also released a statement in September 2023 when another Manchester United player, Antony, was alleged to have committed the assault of two women. The fan group said “swifter action needs to be taken in cases where those working in football are arrested and charged for crimes of violence and abuse to protect and support both fans and their colleagues within their clubs/ the wider football industry”.
Chief Arsenal reporter at football.london, Kaya Kaynak, explained the reasons why clubs do not condemn their players more harshly when accused of gender-based violence. "I think you get into certain legal areas where you have to think about if a player says they didn’t do it then what do you do about that? For example, in the Mason Greenwood case, there is overwhelming evidence that the club couldn’t really ignore in that case and they have to suspend him. If it had been similar to some other cases where there wasn't the same amount of evidence, maybe it would’ve been kept quieter and he would’ve continued playing.
"It's a real dilemma for these clubs when it comes to the need to achieve sporting success on the pitch and the people who can provide them with that and obviously the ethical complications and often legal complications that come hand in hand. In an ideal world, they would not be given a platform and it would be done and dusted. It's a sad state of affairs."