One in 10 report being assaulted at sports clubs as children
Researchers at the University of Antwerp have released the results of a study in which nearly 10% of all Flemings reported being assaulted at a sports club in their youth
“Behaviour is considered part of the sport”
“The aggressive behaviour can take on different forms,” criminologist Tine Vertommen of Antwerp University told De Standaard. “It can concern bullying, cursing or negative comments on your appearance. But physically violent behaviour was also reported, like getting beaten up, forced kissing and rape.”
Nine percent of respondents declared having experienced serious psychological stress, like being pressured to use prohibited substances or threatened with expulsion from the club. Eight percent were victims of assault, such as taken by the throat or hit with a fist. Five percent of the participants said they were sexually assaulted.
Researchers noted that many respondents don’t seem to realise that they were the victims of assault. “It shows how this behaviour is considered as being part of the sport,” stated Vertommen, “but it is definitely not normal to, for example, have your breasts grabbed when doing sports.”
Photo courtesy Gazet van Antwerpen
