Figures show progress in fight against football disorder

• Most Football Banning Orders handed out in a season since 2010/11
• Fewer matches saw disorder last season
• Increase in Class A drug offences being tackled by police, and follows the extension of FBOs to cover this criminality

The number of Football Banning Orders (FBOs) in place has risen by 24% compared with last season as police continue to crack down on criminal behaviour at football matches, new figures published by the Home Office today show.

The increase in the number of new FBOs handed out last season, up 32% compared to 2021/22 and the highest since 2010/11, comes as the number of reported incidents at matches has fallen by 6% in the past year. This shows that police are more effective than ever at taking action to combat disorder.  

Police have also had increasing success in targeting Class A drug possession and use at matches, with 200 arrests (9% of all arrests) made in the past season. This follows measures introduced by the Home Office last year to extend FBOs to cover Class-A drug offences, tackling not only visible drug use at matches but the potential violence it may lead to. There were also 101 arrests in England and Wales relating to the Qatar World Cup, including offences such as violent and public disorder.

The number of matches with reported incidents of anti-social behaviour, violence or disorder were also down 6% compared to the 2021/22 season, having been reported at 50% of regulated football matches.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

“It is so important for our communities that fans can go to watch their club play without fear for their safety. Hooligans are not true fans, and have no place in the game.

“With more people banned from football for their criminal acts and illegal drug taking being tackled, we will continue to make football safer for supporters up and down the country.”

Experimental data for online hate crime has also been released today, showing 234 recorded incidents last season, compared with 103 the previous season. Whilst much of this can be attributed to improved police information gathering, it is clear that hate speech is still a stain on the game that must be tackled, which is why the government last year extended FBOs to cover online hate speech.

Of the 1,516 football matches last season that reported incidents, the most reported types include the illegal use of pyrotechnics (620 matches where incidents were reported), throwing missiles (573) and public order or anti-social behaviour incidents involving youth supporters (450). Types of arrest offences have remained largely stable over the past 10 years, with except for the number of alcohol-related arrests falling notably from 25% of total arrests in 2013/14 to 9% in 2022/23.

The progress policing has made in the past season against football disorder follows a series of high-profile incidents at matches which highlighted the need for action to prevent violence and abuse from tarnishing the game and harming fans. Class A drug use in particular was raised as a concern by Baroness Casey in her report on the Euro 2020 Final, with the government taking action last year to extend FBOs to cover this criminality in the game and banning people with FBOs from travelling to the Qatar World Cup.

NPCC Lead for Football Policing, Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: 

“It is encouraging to see a slight reduction in the number of reported incidents, but we must put this into context and remember that the level of disorder we are seeing across football continues to be much higher than before the pandemic.

“Police are continuing to take positive action to reverse this trend by making a high number of arrests. Last season we also issued the highest number of banning orders in a single year since the 2010/11 season, working closely with the CPS.

“There are now 1,624 football banning orders in place - and as well as not being able to attend matches in this country these fans will also be unable to travel to Germany for the Euro 2024 Championships.

“Online hate crimes are now also recorded in the data, and sadly these offences appear to be on the rise. This is not acceptable, and we have shown with recent prosecutions that people cannot hide behind a social media profile to post vile comments and spread hate.

“We collectively need to make football a safe environment for the overwhelming majority of fans want to enjoy the game, and anyone who commits a criminal offence either outside or inside a football ground can expect to face the consequences of their actions.”

Douglas Mackay, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) West Midlands and CPS Sports Lead Prosecutor said:

“Over the last football season, we have seen the highest level of banning orders put in place since 2010/11. Football banning orders are one of the many tools available to the justice system for an impactful imposition on offenders who are convicted of crimes related to our national game.

At the CPS, we play a crucial role in tackling these crimes and making our national game inclusive, and safe to watch and play in. There is no place for violent and hateful criminal acts in football, and incidents such as these have a significant negative impact on players, spectators, and the integrity of the game.

“The CPS is currently working with the police, football clubs, football authorities and charities seeking to stamp out this blight on football. Further we call on supporters to report incidents of criminality to the police or your local football club.”

FBOs are a preventative behavioural order designed to prevent violence, disorder and harm and are imposed by a court, following an application or on conviction for a football-related offence. This may include pitch invasions, use of pyrotechnics and online abuse, and can ban people from attending regulated football matches for up to five years, and up to ten years if a custodial sentence is imposed. 

The Football Banning Orders Authority can require those with a ban to report to local police and surrender their passport during the control period before and during overseas regulated matches and tournaments.

From the start of Season 2022/23, clubs started reporting all offenders to the police and prosecution, which could lead in a permanent criminal record which may affect their employment and education and could result in a prison sentence.