Football-related arrests reach nine-year high - Home Office

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was kicked in the back by a Tottenham fan at the end of the north London derby in January

Arrests and reported incidents of disorder at football matches in England and Wales have reached a nine-year high, according to Home Office figures.

Arrests at women's matches, arrests made in England and Wales relating to overseas matches, and arrests for possession of Class A drugs are included in the figures for the first time.

The possession of Class A drugs added 200 arrests during the 2022-23 season, while there were 101 arrests in England and Wales relating to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

No arrests were made in connection with this summer's Women's World Cup.

There were 682 new football banning orders issued last season, which is an increase of 32% compared to the 2021-22 campaign, and is the highest number issued since the 960 in the 2010-11 season.

Of the 1,624 football banning orders in force on 1 August 2023, 1,618 were issued to men, and 1,133 to those aged between 18 and 34.

Manchester United supporters have the most banning orders in place with 69, while Millwall are second on 66.

West Ham had the highest number (89) of supporters arrested, which is the most for the second consecutive year.

The Hammers maintain they have improved and robust systems in place on matchdays and say that their pro-active tactics correlate with an increased number of bans for certain offences.

But the Home Office also said that the number of matches with reported incidents decreased by 6% (-93 matches) compared with 1,609 matches in the 2021-22 season.

While the number of arrests is the highest in nine years, it is not a new high overall, as initially reported. There were nine more arrests in 2013-14 than in 2022-23.

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Some of the high-profile incidents during the 2022-23 campaign included a Tottenham fan being given a four-year football banning order for kicking Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after the Gunners' North London derby win over Spurs in January.

The same month a 15-year-old girl was scarred for life when she was struck on the head with a pint glass filled with coins during Manchester City's Carabao Cup tie with Liverpool.

A Leeds United fan who ran on to confront Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe at Elland Road in May was jailed for three months and banned from all games for six years.

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