- Football matches disorder reaches eight-year peak in England and Wales.
- There were 2,198 football-related arrests, which is the most since the 2013–14 season.
- Capacity attendance returned for the 2021–22 campaign.
Last season, there were more arrests and reported cases of unrest at football games in England and Wales than at any time in the previous eight years.
According to Home Office statistics, there were 2,198 football-related arrests, which is the most since the 2013–14 season.
After a year of Covid-19 restrictions, capacity attendance returned for the 2021–22 campaign.
Players were approached following pitch invasions during the turmoil from the previous season.
After Nottingham Forest’s play-off encounter against the Blades, a supporter ran onto the field and headbutted Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp. The fan was arrested and sentenced to jail.
On the final day of the season at the Etihad Stadium, a Manchester City supporter ran onto the field and yelled insults at Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen. He was given a four-year football suspension.
More than half of the games (53%) – 1,609 of the 3,019 played games – had incidents.
In 2018–19, the final season with no Covid–19 limitations, there were 1,007 matches with documented incidents, or one-third of all games.
Accordingly, the number of recorded events increased by 60% from 2018–19 to 2017–18.
Pitch invasions were reported 441 times in 2018–19, an increase of 127%.
The number of football-related arrests increased by 59%, reaching its highest level since 2,273 arrests were made in 2013–14.
516 new prohibition orders were published.
Millwall (33), Leicester City (28) and Everton are the top three clubs receiving new banning orders (26)
Pyrotechnics (729 matches where problems were reported), missiles (561) and public order or anti-social behavior incidents involving young fans were the most commonly reported types of incidents (444).
“[Fan behavior] has unquestionably worsened”
It comes in response to recent remarks made by England internationals Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier, who both claim that there is a problem with football spectator behavior.
For his family to attend away games, Tottenham’s Dier feels “too uncomfortable,” while Liverpool captain Henderson worries that his family’s experiences may discourage them from attending future games.
Dier stated that “[fan behavior] has definitely gotten worse.”
“I find that to be a severe issue. At the Chelsea vs. Tottenham away game, I was with some family and friends who were having issues.
I wanted to emphasize that both types of supporters were involved; I’m not just referring to Chelsea or Tottenham fans; it’s all football fans.
“My family and friends have had a few instances over the previous couple of years that have truly surprised them and maybe discouraged them from attending future games,” Henderson continued.
“They don’t really want to go and put themselves in that scenario again when you see scenes like you saw in the Euros final and the Champions League final.”
“At Wembley, my wife and children had to attempt to enter through a side door after initially being refused entry. They were also entrapped.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who is in charge of football policing, claims that disruption is a “issue” that persists at all levels of professional football.
After positive discussions with the Premier League, English Football League, and Football Association, Roberts said, “We are keen to support our partners in delivering their proposals, which include the introduction of stadium bans for people who enter the pitch as well as those who use pyrotechnics.”
“We are also happy that the Government is expanding the law governing banning orders to include Class A drug offenses. This will give law enforcement another tool to combat those who are using drugs and engaging in illegal or antisocial behavior.
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