Premier League and police to hold crisis talks over fan disorder

DCI_Gene_Hunt

Well-known member
Thinking about the reports of the behaviour of some of our away fans and having seen a few stories like this one I got to wondering about the perception of football fans behaviour.

Do people think things are getting worse at games?

Report below from today's Times.

Premier League and police to hold crisis talks over fan disorder​

Football-related arrests this season have almost doubled compared with 2019-20​


Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter, Tom Roddy
Monday January 24 2022, 6.45pm, The Times
Premier League
Football

Two Villa players were hit by plastic bottles as they celebrated their side’s winner against Everton at the weekend
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...hold-crisis-talks-over-fan-disorder-0r6dtlqb2
The Premier League will hold urgent talks with police chiefs and other football authorities this week after a spate of incidents involving crowd disorder.

There has been growing concern about the conduct of supporters, and the UK’s football police chief has said that fans’ behaviour is “getting worse”. There have been 802 football-related arrests this season — an increase of 47 per cent from 547 arrests in 2019-20.

This weekend, in the Premier League, missiles were thrown at players in two matches, there was a pitch invasion by three Manchester City fans, flares were set off at Southampton and a drone halted play at Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers after being spotted above the stadium.

In response, Premier League chiefs will meet their counterparts at the FA and EFL and will speak to top-flight clubs about the disorder this week. They will also hold talks with the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) on how to prevent and handle future incidents.


The move comes after two men were arrested after objects were thrown at the Chelsea defender Antonio Rüdiger from the away section at Stamford Bridge during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur yesterday. The referee, Paul Tierney, paused play in the 73rd minute and requested that more stewards be stationed in the away end. Rüdiger and Tierney are also believed to have cleared a cigarette lighter and bottle opener from the pitch.

The Chelsea head coach, Thomas Tuchel, subsequently called for a clampdown on unruly behaviour and the FA has opened an investigation and is liaising with the Metropolitan Police.
The incident came a day after the Aston Villa players Lucas Digne and Matty Cash were hit by plastic bottles thrown by Everton fans as they celebrated Villa’s winner in their 1-0 triumph at Goodison Park. Merseyside police have charged Roger Tweedle, 19, of Walton, Liverpool, with assault and throwing an item on to the pitch.


There have been 802 football-related arrests this season — an increase of 47 per cent from 547 arrests in 2019-20 and the highest number of arrests since the unit started collating data in the 2015-16 season.

There have also been 759 reported incidents of disorder — including flares, missiles and hate crime — up 36 per cent from 560 in 19-20. Incidents of disorder have been reported at almost half (48 per cent) of all games across the top divisions — compared with 34 per cent in the 19-20 season. There are no comparable figures from last season as matches were played in empty stadiums.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of the UKFPU, said the increased levels of disorder were “concerning”, particularly among younger fans.
Tuchel had previously recorded a message to Chelsea supporters urging them to behave, and made clear that he would back a nationwide crackdown on offenders.
“I sent a message to our supporters that we love to have them close to the pitch, that it is a brilliant atmosphere that they are not behind fences or nets,” the Chelsea head coach said.
“Everybody needs to show respect and behave to certain guidelines, there is no doubt about it. If this is the new trend we should act together so that it stops as soon as possible to protect the atmosphere and the environment of this game, because it is absolutely unique here in England.”

Incidents not confined to England
Crowd disorder has not only been a problem in the Premier League this season. Two matches in France involving Marseilles have been abandoned this term, on both occasions after Dimitri Payet, the former West Ham United winger, was struck by a water bottle — while playing against Nice in August and Lens in November.

In September, also in France, the second half of Lens’s derby against Lille was held up after fans invaded the pitch and threw objects.

This month, the Copa del Rey match between Real Betis and Seville was abandoned after Seville’s Joan Jordán was struck by a pole.
On Saturday in Brazil, a knife was thrown on to the pitch by a São Paulo fan during an under-20 cup semi-final against Palmeiras.
 
"Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of the UKFPU, said the increased levels of disorder were “concerning”, particularly among younger fans.

Tuchel had previously recorded a message to Chelsea supporters urging them to behave, and made clear that he would back a nationwide crackdown on offenders.

“I sent a message to our supporters that we love to have them close to the pitch, that it is a brilliant atmosphere that they are not behind fences or nets,” the Chelsea head coach said.

“Everybody needs to show respect and behave to certain guidelines, there is no doubt about it. If this is the new trend we should act together so that it stops as soon as possible to protect the atmosphere and the environment of this game, because it is absolutely unique here in England.




Lets look at the facts:

https://www.gov.uk/government/stati...-orders-england-and-wales-2020-to-2021-season

[Extract]
1643119555298.png

Contents​


  1. 1. Summary
  2. 2. Introduction
  3. 3. Football banning orders
  4. 4. Football-related arrests
  5. 5. Reported incidents at football matches
  6. 7. User guide
  7. 7. Further information


Frequency of release: Annual
Forthcoming releases: Home Office statistics release calendar
Home Office responsible statistician: Jenny Bradley
Press enquiries: pressoffice@homeoffice.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 123 3535
Public enquiries: PublicOrderStatistics@homeoffice.gov.uk
This release presents official statistics on football-related arrests, football banning orders, and reported incidents of football-related anti-social behaviour, violence and disorder.

1. Summary​

The 2020 to 2021 football season was impacted by restrictions relating to Covid-19. All figures presented on football banning orders, arrests and reported incidents will have been affected by changes in the way spectators were able to view and attend matches.

In the 2020 to 2021 football season, all 2,978 scheduled matches were played. Of these, 2,766 (93%) were played without spectators and 212 (7%) were played at various reduced capacities (50%, 75% etc.). None were played at full capacity.

Arrests
In the 2020 to 2021 football season, there were 116 football-related arrests under Schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (as amended). Of these, the most common offence types were violent disorder (36%) and public disorder (34%). There has been a downward trend in football-related arrests since the 2010 to 2011 football season. Arrests in the latest season are around 8% of the 2018 to 2019 football season (pre-Covid) level and will have been impacted by the fact that the vast majority of matches (93%) were played without spectators.

In addition, there were 24 football-related arrests by British Transport Police and 29 other (non-Schedule 1) arrests at football matches in the 2020 to 2021 football season.

Football banning orders
As at 1 August 2021, 1,359 football banning orders were in force. The total number of football banning orders has been on a consistent downward trend since the 2011 to 2012 football season. In the 2020 to 2021 football season, 208 new banning orders were issued, which is around 38% of the 2018 to 2019 football season (pre-Covid) level. These have also been impacted by the fact that the vast majority of matches (93%) were played without spectators, although to a lesser extent than arrests as a banning order may relate to arrests from the previous season.

Reported incidents at football matches
Incidents were reported at 79 of the 212 football matches with spectators in the 2020 to 2021 football season (37%).

The most reported types of incidents were pyrotechnics (38 matches where incidents were reported), other incidents in the stadium (27) and public order or anti-social behaviour incidents involving youth supporters (24).

Figure 1: Number of football banning orders in force in England and Wales, from 2011 to 2012 football season to 2020 to 2021 football season

1643119593837.png
Source: Home Office, Football-related arrests and banning order statistics, England and Wales, 2020 to 2021 season, Table 2 and 3.
Notes: Extraction dates of new banning order data varied year-on-year. See the data tables for data extraction dates.

Of the 1,359 banning orders in force as at 1 August 2021, almost all (99.4%; 1,351) were issued to males. Around three-quarters (71%; 963) were issued to those aged between 18 and 34 and 3% (38) were issued to those aged under 18.


Figure 2: Schedule 1 Football-related arrests by location of arrest, from 2011 to 2012 football season to 2020 to 2021 football season
football-banning-orders-2021-02.png



Source: Home Office, Football-related arrests and banning order statistics, England and Wales, 2020 to 2021 season, Table 8.
Notes: Figures include arrests at all regulated international and domestic football matches involving English and Welsh clubs and the national teams, playing in the UK and overseas.

Data by location of arrest are not available prior to the 2014 to 2015 football season.


Figure 3: Football-related arrests by offence type, from 2011 to 2012 football season to 2020 to 2021 football season:
1643119749497.png
Source:
Home Office, Football-related arrests and banning order statistics, England and Wales, 2020 to 2021 season, Table 5.
Notes: Figures include arrests at all regulated international and domestic football matches involving English and Welsh clubs and the national teams, playing in the UK and overseas. Alcohol offences include driving under the influence of drugs. Other includes racist or indecent chanting, ticket touting, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of pyrotechnics, breach of a banning order and criminal damage and or offences against the property.


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Police branded 'a disgrace' after Boro fans - some women and kids - 'pepper sprayed' after Stoke match

'It was so heavy handed' said one Boro fan caught up in the drama (?) in Stoke on Saturday
1643120342396.png
Boro fans have hit out at 'disgraceful' and 'heavy handed' behaviour by police after fans were allegedly pepper sprayed following the Stoke match on Saturday.

Scores of away supporters have taken to social media and fan message boards to say they were held inside the bet365 stadium by police following Boro's nil all draw.

One furious dad, who was at the match with his 15-year-old son, reported that they were left with stinging eyes and in tears after being sprayed in the face by a police officer after they approached to see why they weren't being allowed out of the ground.

The dad, 55, who has followed Boro all his life and is a seasoned away supporter, said his son had his ankle in a boot after breaking it. They were queueing to get out of the stadium in the dark when they started to notice the crowd was being held back.

Worried for his son, he says he moved forward to ask officers what was going on and if they could safely get clear.

It was then that they were sprayed in the face, he said.

"How on earth can police spray us indiscriminately?" he said.

"I was in tears, I couldn't see, my eyes were stinging until it wore off on Sunday morning. My face felt like it was burning.

"It needs stopping."

He said there was no violence that he could see from fans - before the game they had all been mixing in The Harvester pub nearby with no problems.

There were Boro fans of all ages caught up in the congestion trying to leave the stadium, he said.

He has now lodged a complaint with Staffordshire Police about the treatment and is calling on Middlesbrough FC to stand by its fans.

"They locked us up like we were criminals, and in the middle of a pandemic. They had the gates locked," he said.

"We want our club to support fans in this," said the dad.

"It was so heavy handed. We were kept in the pitch black, shameful."

FGgJH3pXIAA4i-X.jpg

Middlesbrough Football Club has confirmed it has been contacted by a number of supporters with complaints which will be referred to the police and relevant authorities.

Stoke City FC refused to comment on the matter.


[This has nothing to do with kettling 1000+ fans]:
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Following any football fixture, we automatically carryout a debrief, in conjunction with the football club, which will review tactics used and lessons learnt. "A 15-year-old boy from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested on suspicion of assault by beating an emergency worker. He was released under investigation pending further enquiries."A 34-year-old man from Cleveland was also arrested on on suspicion of assault by beating an emergency worker. He was released under investigation pending further enquiries."
 
Last edited:
"Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of the UKFPU, said the increased levels of disorder were “concerning”, particularly among younger fans.

Tuchel had previously recorded a message to Chelsea supporters urging them to behave, and made clear that he would back a nationwide crackdown on offenders.

“I sent a message to our supporters that we love to have them close to the pitch, that it is a brilliant atmosphere that they are not behind fences or nets,” the Chelsea head coach said.

“Everybody needs to show respect and behave to certain guidelines, there is no doubt about it. If this is the new trend we should act together so that it stops as soon as possible to protect the atmosphere and the environment of this game, because it is absolutely unique here in England.




Lets look at the facts:

https://www.gov.uk/government/stati...-orders-england-and-wales-2020-to-2021-season

[Extract]
View attachment 32289

Contents​


  1. 1. Summary
  2. 2. Introduction
  3. 3. Football banning orders
  4. 4. Football-related arrests
  5. 5. Reported incidents at football matches
  6. 7. User guide
  7. 7. Further information


Frequency of release: Annual
Forthcoming releases: Home Office statistics release calendar
Home Office responsible statistician: Jenny Bradley
Press enquiries: pressoffice@homeoffice.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 123 3535
Public enquiries: PublicOrderStatistics@homeoffice.gov.uk
This release presents official statistics on football-related arrests, football banning orders, and reported incidents of football-related anti-social behaviour, violence and disorder.

1. Summary​

The 2020 to 2021 football season was impacted by restrictions relating to Covid-19. All figures presented on football banning orders, arrests and reported incidents will have been affected by changes in the way spectators were able to view and attend matches.

In the 2020 to 2021 football season, all 2,978 scheduled matches were played. Of these, 2,766 (93%) were played without spectators and 212 (7%) were played at various reduced capacities (50%, 75% etc.). None were played at full capacity.

Arrests
In the 2020 to 2021 football season, there were 116 football-related arrests under Schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (as amended). Of these, the most common offence types were violent disorder (36%) and public disorder (34%). There has been a downward trend in football-related arrests since the 2010 to 2011 football season. Arrests in the latest season are around 8% of the 2018 to 2019 football season (pre-Covid) level and will have been impacted by the fact that the vast majority of matches (93%) were played without spectators.

In addition, there were 24 football-related arrests by British Transport Police and 29 other (non-Schedule 1) arrests at football matches in the 2020 to 2021 football season.

Football banning orders
As at 1 August 2021, 1,359 football banning orders were in force. The total number of football banning orders has been on a consistent downward trend since the 2011 to 2012 football season. In the 2020 to 2021 football season, 208 new banning orders were issued, which is around 38% of the 2018 to 2019 football season (pre-Covid) level. These have also been impacted by the fact that the vast majority of matches (93%) were played without spectators, although to a lesser extent than arrests as a banning order may relate to arrests from the previous season.

Reported incidents at football matches
Incidents were reported at 79 of the 212 football matches with spectators in the 2020 to 2021 football season (37%).

The most reported types of incidents were pyrotechnics (38 matches where incidents were reported), other incidents in the stadium (27) and public order or anti-social behaviour incidents involving youth supporters (24).

Figure 1: Number of football banning orders in force in England and Wales, from 2011 to 2012 football season to 2020 to 2021 football season

View attachment 32290
Source: Home Office, Football-related arrests and banning order statistics, England and Wales, 2020 to 2021 season, Table 2 and 3.
Notes: Extraction dates of new banning order data varied year-on-year. See the data tables for data extraction dates.

Of the 1,359 banning orders in force as at 1 August 2021, almost all (99.4%; 1,351) were issued to males. Around three-quarters (71%; 963) were issued to those aged between 18 and 34 and 3% (38) were issued to those aged under 18.


Figure 2: Schedule 1 Football-related arrests by location of arrest, from 2011 to 2012 football season to 2020 to 2021 football season
football-banning-orders-2021-02.png



Source: Home Office, Football-related arrests and banning order statistics, England and Wales, 2020 to 2021 season, Table 8.
Notes: Figures include arrests at all regulated international and domestic football matches involving English and Welsh clubs and the national teams, playing in the UK and overseas.

Data by location of arrest are not available prior to the 2014 to 2015 football season.


Figure 3: Football-related arrests by offence type, from 2011 to 2012 football season to 2020 to 2021 football season:
View attachment 32293
Source:
Home Office, Football-related arrests and banning order statistics, England and Wales, 2020 to 2021 season, Table 5.
Notes: Figures include arrests at all regulated international and domestic football matches involving English and Welsh clubs and the national teams, playing in the UK and overseas. Alcohol offences include driving under the influence of drugs. Other includes racist or indecent chanting, ticket touting, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of pyrotechnics, breach of a banning order and criminal damage and or offences against the property.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Police branded 'a disgrace' after Boro fans - some women and kids - 'pepper sprayed' after Stoke match

'It was so heavy handed' said one Boro fan caught up in the drama (?) in Stoke on Saturday
View attachment 32294
Boro fans have hit out at 'disgraceful' and 'heavy handed' behaviour by police after fans were allegedly pepper sprayed following the Stoke match on Saturday.

Scores of away supporters have taken to social media and fan message boards to say they were held inside the bet365 stadium by police following Boro's nil all draw.

One furious dad, who was at the match with his 15-year-old son, reported that they were left with stinging eyes and in tears after being sprayed in the face by a police officer after they approached to see why they weren't being allowed out of the ground.

The dad, 55, who has followed Boro all his life and is a seasoned away supporter, said his son had his ankle in a boot after breaking it. They were queueing to get out of the stadium in the dark when they started to notice the crowd was being held back.

Worried for his son, he says he moved forward to ask officers what was going on and if they could safely get clear.

It was then that they were sprayed in the face, he said.

"How on earth can police spray us indiscriminately?" he said.

"I was in tears, I couldn't see, my eyes were stinging until it wore off on Sunday morning. My face felt like it was burning.

"It needs stopping."

He said there was no violence that he could see from fans - before the game they had all been mixing in The Harvester pub nearby with no problems.

There were Boro fans of all ages caught up in the congestion trying to leave the stadium, he said.

He has now lodged a complaint with Staffordshire Police about the treatment and is calling on Middlesbrough FC to stand by its fans.

"They locked us up like we were criminals, and in the middle of a pandemic. They had the gates locked," he said.

"We want our club to support fans in this," said the dad.

"It was so heavy handed. We were kept in the pitch black, shameful."

View attachment 32296

Middlesbrough Football Club has confirmed it has been contacted by a number of supporters with complaints which will be referred to the police and relevant authorities.

Stoke City FC refused to comment on the matter.


[This has nothing to do with kettling 1000+ fans]:
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Following any football fixture, we automatically carryout a debrief, in conjunction with the football club, which will review tactics used and lessons learnt. "A 15-year-old boy from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested on suspicion of assault by beating an emergency worker. He was released under investigation pending further enquiries."A 34-year-old man from Cleveland was also arrested on on suspicion of assault by beating an emergency worker. He was released under investigation pending further enquiries."
So what's your opinion Roofie, do you think things are getting worse?
 
The punishment is not fitting the crime.
Thrown things during the game.... get 6 months
Smash seats up..... get 6 months
Invade the pitch..... get 3 months
Stadium bans are not enough and don't work anyway

And ABH and GBH and disorder convictions should get hefty jail terms.
 
Was anyone else surprised at how low key the media reaction to the Everton bottle throwing was, imagine if it was millwall etc.

But no as it’s one of the favoured media clubs it’s more of a wider problem now rather than any direction action aimed at Everton.

As they didn’t just throw the bottle they hit the player does it get any worse than that.
 
Does not feel like a return to old style football hooliganism.
More a prevalence of antisocial behaviour around matches, perhaps reflecting behaviour across society.
What can I do to irritate and provoke anyone around me?
I see it all the time as the York mobs board the train we are getting back from away games. It's tedious.
 
If you look at those minutes from the recent Fans Forum I reported on a meeting called between Championship Football Supporters Association reps to discuss dissorder and policing/stewarding problems particularly at away games.
We are setting up a working party looking at some possible solutions around different issues from fan behaviour to stewarding/policing/ticketing/turnstile problems all of which have really become more problematic since the return after lockdown.
Today there was a fact finding meeting going on to look at a few ideas in action.
As to fan behaviour, most if us at that FSA meeting feel it is a change in society that has leaked into footballl.

But Mark Roberts is very much a political animal. He cannot keep out of the media or off tv. He is probably looking to build his own career. We surely don't want to see more police tactics that we were victims of at Stoke. That could well suit Roberts game plan.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The punishment is not fitting the crime.
Thrown things during the game.... get 6 months
Smash seats up..... get 6 months
Invade the pitch..... get 3 months
Stadium bans are not enough and don't work anyway

And ABH and GBH and disorder convictions should get hefty jail terms.
Is that in jail?
 
Too many drugs putting people on edge, too many young men with a glamourised image of football violence and a craving for their precious social media likes.

In some places the problem is aggravated by the biggest legal gang in town turning up in full paramilitary mode.

They should be given the full west stand treatment. Tucked in with a blanket, hot Bovril in one hand and if you jump out your seat with that you're going home with third degree burns. Problem solved.
 
If you look at those minutes from the recent Fans Forum I reported on a meeting called between Championship Football Supporters Association reps to discuss dissorder and policing/stewarding problems particularly at away games.
We are setting up a working party looking at some possible solutions around different issues from fan behaviour to stewarding/policing/ticketing/turnstile problems all of which have really become more problematic since the return after lockdown.
Today there was a fact finding meeting going on to look at a few ideas in action.
As to fan behaviour, most if us at that FSA meeting feel it is a change in society that has leaked into footballl.

But Mark Roberts is very much a political animal. He cannot keep out of the media or off tv. He is probably looking to build his own career. We surely don't want to see more police tactics that we were victims of at Stoke. That could well suit Roberts game plan.
It is a change in society. It’s left wing liberal namby pamby snowflakes jail is bad, education is good, soft as ***** stance on punishing people for being naughty. It starts in the womb, continues through school and then into adult life.
Society is ****ed. Until that is fixed then I wouldn’t get excited about broken toilets at a football ground
 
Strange this is occurring when stewards are used more extensively…….

Needs a greater police presence inside and outside of grounds ( not like Staffordshire old Bill!)
 
As to fan behaviour, most if us at that FSA meeting feel it is a change in society that has leaked into footballl.
I agree Rob & I think behaviour in grounds is getting worse. I don't think it's anywhere near the days of old but if it's not nipped in the bud it will be.

Other's don't, that's their opinion.
 
Fans have responsibilities and so do clubs towards fans safety.
Something we talked about last week was away fans finding only one of two turnstiles open and others closed. Sadly that pretty much predicted the crushes that happened outside Elland Road on Saturday. And we can see how important it is to get it right around stadium after the horrendous deaths in yesterday's Cameroon quarter final game at the African Cup of Nations.
 
It is a change in society. It’s left wing liberal namby pamby snowflakes jail is bad, education is good, soft as ***** stance on punishing people for being naughty. It starts in the womb, continues through school and then into adult life.
Society is ****ed. Until that is fixed then I wouldn’t get excited about broken toilets at a football ground
What are you talking about? And how do you know banning orders don't work?
How do you know that education doesn't achieve goals?
 
Fans have responsibilities and so do clubs towards fans safety.
Something we talked about last week was away fans finding only one of two turnstiles open and others closed. Sadly that pretty much predicted the crushes that happened outside Elland Road on Saturday. And we can see how important it is to get it right around stadium after the horrendous deaths in yesterday's Cameroon quarter final game at the African Cup of Nations.
Remember the queues to get in at Huddersfield, and the concourse was rammed at half time (surely too shall for that end). Not even a particularly large allocation.
 
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