A domestic abuse survivor has bravely spoken out in support of a campaign by West Yorkshire Police to tackle violent behaviour during the Euro 2016 tournament.

The aim is to reduce the number of domestic abuse incidents after seeing an increase during other major sporting events.

Police today again urged football fans to keep their emotions in check in domestic situation during England's last 16 match against Iceland tonight.

Detective Superintendent Darren Minton, of West Yorkshire Police has said that inflamed passions and excess alcohol on match days are no excuse for aggressive, controlling or violent behaviour. 

The West Yorkshire woman survivor, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that she never saw herself as a victim of domestic abuse until the violence escalated and she was left with serious injuries.

Last summer, her then husband violently assaulted her and she fled the house covered in blood, and then called the police. Once she had reported the incident, he pleaded guilty to common assault. He received a suspended prison sentence and an indefinite restraining order, preventing him for contacting her.

She said: “The last incident was the final straw for me – there had been a number of incidents throughout my marriage when my husband was violent, but this was by far the worst. His eyes were glazed over in rage and he kept saying over and over again that he was going to kill me.

“I think there are many people out there, as I was, who are in denial about their situation. It is very easy to brush it aside and make excuses about what is happening. The first step is to admit there is a problem."

Victims of, or witnesses to, domestic abuse can call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. They can call police on 101 and ask to speak to their local Safeguarding Unit.  If a crime is ongoing, and there is a threat to life, call 999.

Media display vehicles were put in place across West Yorkshire including Bradford city centre, at the weekend.