Police urge English clubs to cut football security burden

Last season saw the highest ever number of matches in England and Wales where incidents were reported to the authorities, even though arrest numbers are still returning to levels seen before the pandemic.

A yearly report from the Home Office, published on Thursday, showed a 4% rise in the count of games where “football-related anti-social behaviour, violence and disorder” was reported in the 2025-26 season. Incidents were recorded at 1,644 fixtures, compared to 1,580 in the prior season.

Separately, the Home Office estimated that four arrests or similar interventions (like voluntary police questioning) occurred per 100,000 spectators at men’s football matches in 2025-26, with the FA Cup carrying the highest likelihood of arrests. In the women’s game, however, the total number of such incidents was just four across the entire season.

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A total of 1,695 arrests were made last season, a decrease from 1,744 in 2024-25 and a high of 2,198 in the pandemic-disrupted 2021-22 season. The data also highlighted a rise in arrests and other measures relating to public disorder, which remains the most frequent category of offence.

The latest numbers partly mirror an expansion in the information gathered. In the 2025-26 season, the new offence of “unauthorised entry” was incorporated into the Football Spectators Act 1989, leading to 45 arrests under this category. Without this addition, the overall count of arrests and actions would have fallen by 4%.

The list of reportable behaviours was further broadened to include “sexism and misogyny” and “violence against women and girls”, which fans can now flag to police or organisations like the FA and Kick It Out. The Home Office noted that 22 matches generated reports of sexist conduct, while 37 were flagged for violence against women. A statement explained that “the overall increase was therefore largely driven by the introduction of these new categories.”

Among all reported incidents, “hate crime” was the most frequent, cited at 491 fixtures. The next highest were objects being thrown, recorded at 359 games, followed by the use of flares or smoke devices at 316 matches.

Separate figures from the Home Office showed that the number of football banning orders—prohibiting individuals convicted of football-related offences from attending games—reached its highest level since 2012. There are currently 2,460 such orders active, an increase of 568 compared with the previous season, though this rise was smaller than the 685 increase seen in 2024-25.

Chief constable Mark Roberts, who leads football policing across England and Wales, argued that the report underscores the urgency of reevaluating how such policing is paid for, noting that 46% of arrests and interventions occur beyond stadium confines. “Football-related crime doesn’t simply stop when fans exit the stadium, but under the current system multibillion-pound football clubs do not have to pay a penny towards the policing outside their grounds,” he said. “This means that taxpayers are left footing the £70m bill each season, which simply cannot continue.”

A representative for the Premier League stated: “The Premier League and its member clubs collaborate extensively with police forces at both national and local levels to create safe and welcoming atmospheres for all supporters. Each season, we invest over £90m in stewarding, security, community-based crime prevention programmes, and various technology-driven pilot initiatives, working alongside multiple police forces and the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU).

“This collaborative strategy will assist law enforcement in safely reducing the need for policing at football events, as arrest numbers have been declining notably over the past ten years.”

A Premier League representative commented: “Working together with national and local police, the league and its clubs are committed to ensuring every fan enjoys a safe, inclusive experience. We are putting over £90m each year into stewarding, security, local crime prevention measures, and cutting-edge technology trials alongside multiple forces and the UKFPU.

“This joint effort will aid police in cutting the demand for match-day policing in a safe manner, reflecting the substantial drop in arrests seen over the past decade.”