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Dnevnik Express
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England’s Home Office notes that arrests and reported incidents of disorderly conduct at football matches have reached a nine-year high.
In 2022-23, there were 2,264 arrests related to football matches, the highest number since the 2013-2014 season and 66 more than the previous season.
For the first time, the figures include arrests at women’s matches, arrests made in England and Wales in connection with overseas matches and arrests for drug possession.
It was drug possession that added 200 arrests in the 2022-2023 season, and England and Wales saw 101 arrests linked to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Last season saw 682 new football banning orders issued, a 32% increase on the 2021-2022 campaign and the highest number of orders issued since the 960 in the 2010-2011 season. From 1,624 of football banning orders in force on 1 August 2023, 1,618 were issued to men and 1,133 to people aged between 18 and 34.
Manchester United supporters have the most bans at 69, with Millwall second with 66.
West Ham had the highest number of supporters arrested (89), the most for the second year in a row.
The Hammers claim they have improved and robust match-day systems and say their proactive tactics are linked to increased bans for certain offences.
But the Home Office also said the number of matches with recorded incidents fell by 6% (93 matches) compared to 1,609 matches in the 2021-2022 season.
