Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026

cafcfan

This strangely worded* (that's private members' bills for you) piece of legislation comes into force in time for the League Cup Final this weekend.
It's designed to criminalise "tailgating" at turnstiles. There's the potential for a hefty fine plus a football banning order.
Of potential interest to Charlton supporters is that it also becomes an offence to use a ticket that you are not entitled to use. I assume this means blagging your way in on an under 18/senior ticket when you should be paying full adult price. That will now have potentially dire consequences.
Be careful out there.


*Why strangely worded? Well apart from the odd use of the word "thing" the Act would also appear to potentially make it an offence to enter the main reception area without a ticket even though the intention was to collect one from the reception desk! Legislation really needs to be more carefully drafted by professionals imo.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/1/enacted

RodneyCharltonTrotta

Won't affect us. We struggle to attract enough people to legally enter each week.

shine166

RodneyCharltonTrotta said:

Won't affect us. We struggle to attract enough people to legally enter each week.

Cheap kids seats in the corner seem to sell very well for a area thats always empty. 

Elthamaddick

let's not worry about all the other shit going on in the world, cities are becomming a cesspit, violent crime continues to rise etc

let's concentrate on football fans tailgating into a game

se9addick

Elthamaddick said:

let's not worry about all the other shit going on in the world, cities are becomming a cesspit, violent crime continues to rise etc

let's concentrate on football fans tailgating into a game

Do both surely?

Chizz

cafcfan said:

This strangely worded* (that's private members' bills for you) piece of legislation comes into force in time for the League Cup Final this weekend.
It's designed to criminalise "tailgating" at turnstiles. There's the potential for a hefty fine plus a football banning order.
Of potential interest to Charlton supporters is that it also becomes an offence to use a ticket that you are not entitled to use. I assume this means blagging your way in on an under 18/senior ticket when you should be paying full adult price. That will now have potentially dire consequences.
Be careful out there.


*Why strangely worded? Well apart from the odd use of the word "thing" the Act would also appear to potentially make it an offence to enter the main reception area without a ticket even though the intention was to collect one from the reception desk! Legislation really needs to be more carefully drafted by professionals imo.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/1/enacted

No. 

"It is a defence to prove that P[erson] had lawful authority or lawful excuse for entering, or attempting to enter, the premises."

stoneroses19

Elthamaddick said:

let's not worry about all the other shit going on in the world, cities are becomming a cesspit, violent crime continues to rise etc

let's concentrate on football fans tailgating into a game

This has been led by the FA, I believe. Not really there place to focus on other social aspects which could improve cities etc. 

valleynick66

Surely just a case of addressing legal loopholes to outlaw what is obviously the wrong behaviour. 

OhMyGodden

Elthamaddick said:

let's not worry about all the other shit going on in the world, cities are becomming a cesspit, violent crime continues to rise etc

But it's not though is it, you believe that as it fits your agenda and you probably read the Daily Mail.

Arsenetatters

Elthamaddick said:

let's not worry about all the other shit going on in the world, cities are becomming a cesspit, violent crime continues to rise etc

let's concentrate on football fans tailgating into a game

It does seem a bit of a waste of time tbh. Will it make much difference to income? Where does the money from any fines go? 

Greenhithe

As far as im concerned if my mate has paid for his seat and cant go and gives it to someone else there's fuck all wrong with it. 

Off_it

Seems odd that we have another law brought in specifically for football. 

Tailgating at rugby, cricket, concerts is fine, apparently - but if those pesky football fans try doing it we'll have 'em!

How many other football specific laws are there? No drinking in view of the pitch. No entering the pitch. No entering the area surrounding the pitch. No being drunk while trying to gain entry into a football ground. (But being drunk on the street is fine, just don't enter a football ground!) No blowing your nose in a loud or offensive manner.

Rothko

As Off It said, another football-specific offence, another use of banning orders, which were created to deal with serious disorder, and are now handed out like sweeties by Courts

shirty5

Not the first time Wembley has had issues like this. 

Sixty-nine arrests were made in relation to last year's Carabao Cup final, with the Metropolitan Police confirming at the time that the majority had been for trying to get into Wembley without a ticket. But until now, police could only charge a culprit with suspected fraud, making prosecution unlikely.

iaitch

shirty5 said:

Not the first time Wembley has had issues like this. 

Sixty-nine arrests were made in relation to last year's Carabao Cup final, with the Metropolitan Police confirming at the time that the majority had been for trying to get into Wembley without a ticket. But until now, police could only charge a culprit with suspected fraud, making prosecution unlikely.

What percentage were Liverpool fans?

guinnessaddick

Off_it said:

Seems odd that we have another law brought in specifically for football. 

Tailgating at rugby, cricket, concerts is fine, apparently - but if those pesky football fans try doing it we'll have 'em!

How many other football specific laws are there? No drinking in view of the pitch. No entering the pitch. No entering the area surrounding the pitch. No being drunk while trying to gain entry into a football ground. (But being drunk on the street is fine, just don't enter a football ground!) No blowing your nose in a loud or offensive manner.

Controlling the working class.

iaitch

Off_it said:

Seems odd that we have another law brought in specifically for football. 

Tailgating at rugby, cricket, concerts is fine, apparently - but if those pesky football fans try doing it we'll have 'em!

How many other football specific laws are there? No drinking in view of the pitch. No entering the pitch. No entering the area surrounding the pitch. No being drunk while trying to gain entry into a football ground. (But being drunk on the street is fine, just don't enter a football ground!) No blowing your nose in a loud or offensive manner.

Alcohol on fans coach going to/from a game?

gringo

iaitch said:

shirty5 said:

Not the first time Wembley has had issues like this. 

Sixty-nine arrests were made in relation to last year's Carabao Cup final, with the Metropolitan Police confirming at the time that the majority had been for trying to get into Wembley without a ticket. But until now, police could only charge a culprit with suspected fraud, making prosecution unlikely.

What percentage were Liverpool 

..... so long as its not retrospective and covers crawling under the fence on the old East Terrace. 

man_at_milletts

RodneyCharltonTrotta said:

Won't affect us. We struggle to attract enough people to legally enter each week.

newyorkaddick

Spurs fans are also now banned from tailgating each other on their way out of the stadium.

KBslittlesis

You’ll just end up with more FBO’s that aren’t enforced because there’s no one left (or who cares) to deal with them.

shirty5

iaitch said:

shirty5 said:

Not the first time Wembley has had issues like this. 

Sixty-nine arrests were made in relation to last year's Carabao Cup final, with the Metropolitan Police confirming at the time that the majority had been for trying to get into Wembley without a ticket. But until now, police could only charge a culprit with suspected fraud, making prosecution unlikely.

What percentage were Liverpool fans?

No idea but considering this has happened before in the summer of 2021, it appears Wembley have not got their house in order to prevent this happening again 

cafcfan

Chizz said:

cafcfan said:

This strangely worded* (that's private members' bills for you) piece of legislation comes into force in time for the League Cup Final this weekend.
It's designed to criminalise "tailgating" at turnstiles. There's the potential for a hefty fine plus a football banning order.
Of potential interest to Charlton supporters is that it also becomes an offence to use a ticket that you are not entitled to use. I assume this means blagging your way in on an under 18/senior ticket when you should be paying full adult price. That will now have potentially dire consequences.
Be careful out there.


*Why strangely worded? Well apart from the odd use of the word "thing" the Act would also appear to potentially make it an offence to enter the main reception area without a ticket even though the intention was to collect one from the reception desk! Legislation really needs to be more carefully drafted by professionals imo.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/1/enacted

No. 

"It is a defence to prove that P[erson] had lawful authority or lawful excuse for entering, or attempting to enter, the premises."

I saw that but it squarely puts the onus on the defendant to prove something.  Whereas it is usual for the prosecution to have to prove that the offence took place.  (It is never easy to prove a negative.)

cafcfan

Off_it said:

Seems odd that we have another law brought in specifically for football. 

Tailgating at rugby, cricket, concerts is fine, apparently - but if those pesky football fans try doing it we'll have 'em!

How many other football specific laws are there? No drinking in view of the pitch. No entering the pitch. No entering the area surrounding the pitch. No being drunk while trying to gain entry into a football ground. (But being drunk on the street is fine, just don't enter a football ground!) No blowing your nose in a loud or offensive manner.

It works like this because they have done it on the cheap. They have not created a new piece of legislation as such. The drafting of this piece is such that it gets included as extra chapters in the Football (Offences) Act 1991. Hence why it only applies to football.

redman

gringo said:

iaitch said:

shirty5 said:

Not the first time Wembley has had issues like this. 

Sixty-nine arrests were made in relation to last year's Carabao Cup final, with the Metropolitan Police confirming at the time that the majority had been for trying to get into Wembley without a ticket. But until now, police could only charge a culprit with suspected fraud, making prosecution unlikely.

What percentage were Liverpool fans?

102%- all of whom were cracking jokes LA! In view of Hillsborough you would think they would frown on this. Someone mentioned Cricket and Rugby earlier, well they have never had a disaster liked Hillsborough partly caused by fans storming turnstiles so If this legislation can help prevent a reoccurrence in the future then all power to it.

..... so long as its not retrospective and covers crawling under the fence on the old East Terrace. 

This has been proved totally incorrect. Liverpool fans were exonerated and it was only shit stirred up in the Sun that led to such accusations. Can people please STOP saying this absolute rubbish. It is very insulting to the people of Liverpool and particularly to the 97 killed. 

charltonbob

Can someone please contact usedtobunkinin

charlton4ever

charltonbob said:

Can someone please contact usedtobunkinin

I think me and usedto would be on lifetime bans lol

CAFCTrev

Is it jibbing (gibbing?) in or bunking in?

shine166

Greenhithe said:

As far as im concerned if my mate has paid for his seat and cant go and gives it to someone else there's fuck all wrong with it. 

Its not really targeting that though is it, bet we have quite a few who turn up on a kids ticket.

msomerton

Does this mean you cannot loan a season ticket to some else, when you cannot make a game then.

cafcfan

msomerton said:

Does this mean you cannot loan a season ticket to some else, when you cannot make a game then.

No, it doesn't mean that. You can still allow someone else to use your ticket as long as they are in the correct (or higher?) price band. The club's FAQs say they would prefer you to speak with the ticket office and have the ticket assigned to the other person.