Football-related arrests reach a new high as the Home Office reveals 2,264 fans were arrested last season… with West Ham, Man United and Leeds supporters being the worst offenders
- Home Office figures include arrests for the possession of class A drugs
- The latest figures revealed a total of 1,624 football banning orders were in force
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A total of 2,264 football-related arrests were made during the 2022-23 season, representing a new high across England and Wales.
The Home Office revealed the increase from the 2021-22 campaign when 2,198 fans were arrested, which had represented the highest number since 2013-14.
The figures for the first time included arrests related to the FIFA World Cup, the possession of class A drugs, and women’s football matches in England and Wales.
A total of 200 arrests were made for the possession of class A drugs, while 101 related to the World Cup.
No arrests were reported in relation to women’s regulated football matches or the Women’s World Cup.
A total of 2,264 football-related arrests were made by police during the 2022-23 season
West Ham had the highest number of supporters arrested for the second consecutive season
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The Home Office reported that 90 per cent of arrests involved supporters of clubs in the top five English football divisions.
‘Prior to the 2019 to 2020 season, there was a downward trend in football-related arrests; a decrease of more than half (-55%) from 3,089 in the 2010 to 2011 season, to 1,381 in the 2018 to 2019 season (before COVID-19),’ the Home Office stated.
‘In the 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 seasons, the number of arrests increased to levels similar to the 2013 to 2014 season.’
A total of 1,624 football banning orders were in force, as of August 1, representing a 24 per cent increase from the previous year. This included 682 new banning orders issued during the 2022-23 season, a rise of 32 per cent compared to the previous campaign.
The figure represents the highest number of banning orders issued since the 2010 to 2011 season. Banning orders last for a minimum of three years.
Men are responsible for 99.6 per cent of banning orders issued, with 70 per cent given to those between 18 and 34, while two per cent were imposed on fans aged 17 or under.
Manchester United supporters had the highest number of football banning orders in force with 69, followed by Millwall on 66 and Leicester with 56.
Birmingham City and West Ham fans completed the top five with 54 and 52 banning orders, respectively.
A Tottenham fan received a four-year banning order after kicking Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was confronted by a pitch intruder during a match against Leeds
For the second consecutive year, West Ham had the highest number of fans arrested with 89. Man United and Leeds United had 83 and 69 arrests, with the former seeing the largest increase compared with the 2021-22 season.
Arrests for pitch-invading fans were down 53 per cent, with 166 incidents recorded.
A decrease of six per cent was reported in the number of matches with reported incidents, with 1,516 games in 2022-23 to 1,609 the previous season.
The figures come amid the highest recorded attendance in men’s domestic and international matches, with 45 million people watching games during the season.
Several high-profile incidents occurred during last season, including Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale being kicked by a Tottenham fan following the north London derby in January. The supporter was handed a four-year banning order.
Liverpool also issued an apology to a Man City fan who was left ‘scarred for life’ beer pot weighted by coins during a Carabao Cup match in December.
A Leeds United supporter was arrested in May for entering the technical area and pushing Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
The number of recorded incidents of online hate crime was 234, rising from 103 the previous year.
The Home Office was likely due to improved and more standardised methods of recording.
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