Four days after Spain celebrated one of the biggest sporting moments in its history, a disturbing question has emerged: has the country just witnessed the same pattern that the UK has been warning about for years? While millions of fans took to the streets on July 19 to celebrate Spain’s World Cup victory, a very different picture was emerging away from the celebrations.

Calls to Spain’s 016 domestic violence helpline shockingly increased by 120.8% in the hours following the victory, according to figures from the Ministry of Equality. The rise, recorded between 11pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday compared with the same period the previous week, has triggered fresh concerns over whether major sporting events can coincide with increased risks for victims of domestic abuse.

A warning sign Spain cannot ignore

The figures have placed Spain at the centre of a debate that the United Kingdom has been examining for years. The issue is not that football creates violence, nor that supporters are responsible for the actions of individuals who abuse others.

However, researchers and support organisations have repeatedly warned that major football events can become flash points in households where abusive behaviour already exists, particularly when combined with factors such as alcohol consumption, heightened emotions and tension.

The question facing Spain now is whether this sudden rise follows the same pattern already identified in Britain, where domestic abuse reports have been shown to increase around major football tournaments.

The UK figures reveal a disturbing pattern

Research from Lancaster University examining domestic abuse reports during three World Cups found that incidents increased by 26% when England won or drew, but rose even further, by 38% when England lost. The findings highlighted that the result itself was not the cause of abuse.

Instead, researchers suggested that the intense emotions surrounding major football matches could contribute to situations escalating in homes where violence or controlling behaviour was already present. That pattern has led British police forces, charities and support organisations to launch campaigns before major tournaments, warning that victims may face increased risks during periods when the nation’s attention is focused on football.

Why victories and defeats can become dangerous moments

The concern is not about millions of fans celebrating safely. The vast majority of supporters watch matches without any problems, and a football result does not create an abusive person. The responsibility always lies with the individual choosing to use violence, intimidation or control against another person. However, experts warn that major events can expose problems that remain hidden behind closed doors.

Large celebrations, disrupted routines, alcohol consumption and emotional intensity can all contribute to already unsafe situations becoming more volatile. This is why authorities in several countries treat major sporting events as moments when awareness and support services are especially important.

Behind the statistics are women asking for help

The 120.8% rise in calls to Spain’s 016 service represents far more than a number. Behind every contact is an individual situation involving someone seeking protection, support or a way out. For many victims, reaching out for help can be one of the hardest decisions they make.

Fear of their partner’s reaction, concerns about children, financial dependence or years of isolation can prevent people from seeking support sooner. A phone call may come after months or even years of living with threats, intimidation or controlling behaviour.

A hidden crisis that often goes unseen

Domestic violence frequently takes place away from public view, meaning friends, relatives and neighbours may not realise what is happening until a situation becomes severe. Warning signs can include someone becoming isolated from their support network, appearing afraid of their partner, experiencing excessive control over their movements or constantly changing their behaviour to avoid conflict. Support organisations stress that people do not need to have all the answers to make a difference. Listening, believing someone who reaches out and helping them access professional advice can be a vital first step.

Spain’s response and where victims can turn

Spain’s 016 service provides confidential information and support for women experiencing gender violence, as well as advice for anyone concerned about someone else. The service offers different ways to seek help, including telephone and online support, allowing victims to choose the method they feel safest using.

Authorities continue to encourage people to seek help before situations become emergencies. Anyone affected by gender violence in Spain, or anyone worried about someone else, can contact 016 for guidance. In an immediate emergency, the number to call is 112.

A World Cup victory with another story behind it

Spain’s World Cup triumph will remain a historic sporting achievement remembered by millions. The celebrations, the crowds and the scenes of national pride will be remembered for years. But the figures that emerged afterwards have revealed another side to the story, one that took place away from the streets and behind closed doors.

The surge in calls to 016 has raised a difficult question: has Spain now seen the same warning signs that the UK has been highlighting for years? Because while millions celebrated a victory, some women were fighting a very different battle, one where the most important call was not about football, but about finding help.

Every Argentine child grows up learning the name José de San Martín, the military genius who helped free Argentina, Chile and Peru from Spanish rule. What far fewer people know is that the man celebrated as one of South America’s greatest liberators began his military life wearing the colours of Murcia.

It is a little-known chapter of history that has fascinated historians on both sides of the Atlantic for decades. Before San Martín became the fearless commander who crossed the Andes with an army against impossible odds, he was a young cadet serving in the Regimiento de Infantería Murcia, a historic Spanish regiment whose white and sky-blue uniform has fuelled one of the most enduring legends surrounding the colours carried into South America’s wars of independence.

The ‘Cadet of Murcia’

José Francisco de San Martín was born in Yapeyú, in present-day Argentina, in 1778. When he was just six years old, his family returned to Spain, settling in Málaga. It was there, in 1789, that the 11-year-old entered the Spanish Army as a cadet in the Regimiento Murcia, known as ‘El Leal’ (The Loyal).

Created in the late seventeenth century, the regiment traced its roots back to the old Tercio Provincial Nuevo de Murcia. Its colours were unmistakable: white uniforms with distinctive sky-blue details, worn under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. For almost twelve years, San Martín served with the regiment, learning the discipline and tactics that would later make him one of history’s greatest military commanders. In Argentina, that chapter of his life earned him a nickname still remembered today: ‘El Cadete de Murcia’.

The day Napoleon noticed Murcia

One of the most remarkable stories from San Martín’s years in Spanish service unfolded in the French port of Toulon. After serving in North Africa and later fighting during the Napoleonic Wars, San Martín was aboard the Spanish frigate Santa Dorotea when Napoleon Bonaparte visited the harbour. According to the account preserved by Murcian historians, the French emperor stopped when he noticed the unusual uniform worn by the young officer.

Taking hold of one of the brass buttons on his jacket, Napoleon read the single word engraved upon it. “Murcia.” He smiled before continuing on his way. Whether it was simple curiosity or recognition of the famous Spanish regiment, the anecdote has become one of the most treasured stories linking Murcia to one of history’s defining figures.

The colours that crossed the Andes

Years later, San Martín returned to South America to join the fight for independence. In 1817, he led the legendary Crossing of the Andes, one of military history’s greatest achievements, taking his army across snow-covered mountain passes to liberate Chile before continuing towards Peru. Before beginning the campaign, he ordered the creation of a new banner for the Army of the Andes, requesting a striking sky-blue cloth. That decision gave rise to a legend still debated today.

Some historians believe the colours reflected the uniform San Martín had worn for more than a decade with the Murcia Regiment. Others point out that Manuel Belgrano had already created Argentina’s national flag in 1812, meaning the similarity may simply have reinforced colours that had already become symbols of the independence movement. Whatever the truth, the connection remains one of the most intriguing links between Murcia and South American history.

A shared history across two continents

San Martín is remembered across Argentina as the Father of the Nation, in Murcia, his story is quieter. A commemorative plaque on Murcia’s Ronda de Garay recalls the liberator’s connection to the region, while the nickname ‘Cadet of Murcia’ continues to echo through Argentine military history.

Whether the famous blue and white banners that accompanied South America’s liberation were inspired by the Murcia Regiment or simply recalled a young soldier’s earliest years, one thing is certain. Long before José de San Martín became a hero to millions, he was learning the art of war under a name that still resonates more than two centuries later. Murcia.