Football arrests 'highest in years' & disorder on the rise - police
Arrests at football matches across the top five English leagues are at their highest levels in years, with fan disorder "getting worse", according to the UK's football policing lead.
More trouble, more arrests, fewer games - the key stats
- Data collected from 1 July to 31 December 2021 from English domestic competitions only and compared to same six-month period for season 2019-20 - the last one without restrictions pre-pandemic
- 802 football related arrests so far this season - an increase in 47% from 547 arrests in 2019-20 - the highest number of arrests since UKFPU started collating in season 2015-16
- Incidents of disorder reported at almost half (48%) of all games across Premier League, EFL and National League - compared to 34% in season 19-20
- There were 759 reported incidents including flares, missiles and hate crime - up 36% from 560 in 19-20
- 210 incidents were involving young supporters under the age of 25, up from 154 in 19-20. The five year average of incidents involving under 25 was 168
- That's despite fewer games this season (1,581) due to postponements, than in 19-20 (1,670)
- The biggest increase in reported incidents of disorder is in the Championship and National league. Up 58% in Championship and 56% in national league from 2019-20
- Police presence at 66% of football matches across top 5 English divisions, compared to 46% of games in 19-20.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/60056492
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Comments
The lockdown and increasing use of various substances probably does lead at least in part to the lack of control for both though.
For example the idiot who threw a seat at a steward at the Plymouth home game. They should never be allowed back in The Valley, yet I never heard anything from the club about this.
But I also don't think it excuses violence/vandalism by the fans.
Its apparently more socially acceptable 🤷♀️
Policing cuts inevitably led to those whose sole job it was to police football at specific grounds were pulled away & it became centralised.
But it isn’t the only thing.
Its a collection of everything that’s been mentioned.
An awful recipe that won’t change until something happens.
Its always been that way.
But even in my sleepy fishing village it’s rife 😞
Far more frequent than before lockdown, when Naby got his brilliant last minute equaliser at QPR I don't remember a pitch invasion, whereas we get one now for an equaliser at Cheltenham
Everyone wants to be the centre of attention and get their video for twitter.