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 have had a bad experience attending a football game - that is if you do not include when I have watched my team lose, which is a regular occurrence.

There are three experiences from my childhood of following Hull City where I remember feeling slightly scared. There was an uncomfortable moment this season when I encountered two men in the female toilets at QPR - the less said about that the better. But I would say 95 percent of my experience of watching football as a fan has been unproblematic.

It should go without saying that your own experience is not the same as somebody else’s and vice versa, but it seems Eni Aluko’s remark that stadiums are ‘not safe for women’ has triggered quite a few people this week.

In the same way Aluko does not speak for all female fans, nobody should ridicule or invalidate somebody’s else’s personal experiences.

Just because you may not have had the displeasure of encountering abuse, physical or verbal, at a football match, does not mean it does not exist.

There is a reason Her Game Too was founded in 2021. The anti-sexism group was set up by a group of female football fans in May 2021 with a video where female football fans showed sexist abuse they received from football fans.

Abuse on social media is undoubtedly more common than it is inside stadiums and seems to be worryingly on the rise. But there are examples of serious problems on the terraces.

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

‘I have had men scream in my face, I've had men kiss me in celebrating a goal which was not welcomed or reciprocated.

‘I have been touched and groped on away days. I experience similar in pubs around the football.

‘I have received abuse on social media for simply sharing an opinion on football. One man at a ground once got so annoyed that he said "stick to netball", I hadn't even said a word, he was so irate with the then manager.

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

‘One experience left me so scared that I didn't return to my season ticket seat for about five to six games. I opted to sit in a different stand with a friend who had a spare ticket next to him.

‘I know so many similar stories to mine from other women I know. We always have to prove ourselves to men to show we're worthy of being at the football - our knowledge of the laws or of our team, whatever it might be.

‘It's like we have to fight for the right to be there.’

Football can always do more for its supporters, whether it’s women, disabled fans, young children or the elderly.

While Aluko’s comments may not speak for every female football fan in the country, it is important we recognise and support those who have experienced abuse at matches - and call it out if we see it. Football has to be an environment where everyone feels safe to participate.