Study reveals the surprising effect that Euro 2024 is having on marriages

* An unexpected wave of people have flocked to IllicitEncounters.com since the start of the Euro 2024 tournament – with a shocking 69% of women seeking an affair while the football’s on, up 19%.

* Activity on the married dating site spikes daily between 7pm and 11pm since the start of the tournament, with messaging peaking during halftime.

* Scotland’s last-minute defeat on Sunday saw record numbers of Scots using the site, after their disappointing exit from the tournament.

* The top three cities with the highest increase in site activity during Euro 2024 are Glasgow (42% increase), Aberdeen (39% increase), and London (36% increase).

* ‘Football widows’ are suffering most, with 76% admitting that feeling excluded and ignored by their football-obsessed partners drove them to seek attention elsewhere.

* Poll conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

Ah, the Euros! A time for camaraderie, national pride, and… unexpected infidelity? According to experts, the Euro 2024 tournament has sparked a surprising increase in extramarital affairs, particularly amongst women. As the football frenzy grips Europe, it seems the beautiful game might be playing havoc off the pitch as well.

A significant spike in activity has been observed on the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, IllicitEncounters.com between 7pm and 11pm every day since the football tournament began, coinciding with the evening match slots – a surge especially prominent during matches featuring England and Scotland. 

It seems that when the referee blows the whistle, some fans are more than ready to blow off steam in other ways, with data showing a 45% increase in messaging during football games this week, with peak activity during halftime. 

Scotland’s dramatic last-minute defeat on Sunday and subsequent elimination from the Euros saw a record-breaking increase in online activity among Scots, as disappointed fans turned to their devices in droves seeking comfort.

In fact, the top three cities experiencing the highest increase in site activity during Euro 2024 are Glasgow (42% increase), Aberdeen (39% increase), and London (36% increase), with the highs and lows in England and Scotland’s matches clearly having an effect in these urban hubs.

With partners glued to the screen, many women have found themselves becoming ‘football widows’. As a large number of men become completely engrossed in the beautiful game, women are finding themselves with an unusual amount of free time, and as the saying goes, the devil finds work for idle hands. Mix in a dash of loneliness, a sprinkle of neglect, and a hint of resentment, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a wandering eye. 

According to a poll of 500 new female members using the affairs site, 76% admitted that feeling excluded and ignored by their football-obsessed partners drove them to seek attention elsewhere.

The preference for football over intimacy is also creating a notable divide in many relationships, with 54% of women stating that their partners become unbearable while watching football, leading to an uptick in arguments during the tournament.

For men, “going to the pub” has become the ultimate alibi, with a whopping 68% using this excuse throughout the Euros, providing them with the perfect cover to slip away for a few hours without arousing suspicion.

Jessica Leoni, spokesperson at IllicitEncounters.com, explains, “Football, for many men, becomes an all-consuming passion during these tournaments. When intimacy and communication are benched, it creates a massive divide in relationships.

Since Euro 2024 began on June 14th, we’ve seen a huge surge in new members joining our site, with a particularly interesting twist: 69% of these newcomers are women. Typically, we see a balanced 50/50 split, but the tournament has completely flipped the script.”

Jennifer from Dundee, who joined IllicitEncounters.com during Scotland’s match against Switzerland last week, said “My husband has always been a big fan of football, but the Euros has pushed our relationship to the limit, and he’s never been more obsessed. 

It’s like he transforms into a different person during matches. He just yells at the TV and snaps at me for the smallest things, and that’s when I realised how isolated I felt in my own home.

When I joined the site, I didn’t want to cheat – I was just desperate for some form of connection and attention, and finally that’s what I’m getting!”

Josh from London, who joined the site six months ago but is using the Euro 2024 tournament as an excuse for meeting his lover, said “My wife thinks I’m a footie fanatic, but I actually couldn’t care less about who wins the Euros. 

I was feeling trapped and unfulfilled in my marriage. Joining the site was a way to find excitement and passion again, and when the Euros started, I realised it was the perfect chance for me to meet up with my lover without getting caught.

My wife’s so understanding when it comes to my ‘football nights’, and she doesn’t question it when I say I’m heading to the pub to catch the match. It makes me feel a bit guilty, but the thrill of my double life is too strong to resist.”

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