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Football-related disorder has surged across England and Wales, with new statistics revealing an 18% rise in the number of matches marred by reported incidents during the 2024–25 season. A total of 1,583 matches were impacted, up from 1,341 the previous year, according to figures released by the Home Office.
While cases involving hate crimes and drug use have notably risen, by 6% and 25% respectively, there has been a decline in pitch invasions (-12%) and pyrotechnic-related offences (-19%). Authorities say this is evidence of effective collaboration between police forces and football clubs in tackling specific behaviours.
Despite the overall increase in incidents, arrests actually declined for the first time since fans returned post-pandemic, dropping 11% from 2,167 to 1,932. Officials say the fall in arrests is not a sign of leniency but rather a shift in how cases are handled. Many individuals are now dealt with after the fact, attending voluntary interviews at later dates, which are not always reflected in arrest figures.
A persistent challenge, however, remains the pressure on police resources. Forces continue to struggle under financial constraints, and a significant source of frustration lies in the lack of adequate cost recovery from football clubs.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) football policing lead, said:
“These figures show that we are continuing to see a worrying level of offending at men’s football matches across the country at all levels, which is leading to an increasing strain on policing resources and demonstrates why it is essential that football clubs need to start paying their fair share towards policing matches."
He added:
“Policing men’s football creates significantly more demand than any other event in terms of public order deployments nationally, meaning every week officers are taken away from policing communities to facilitate matches. Given the frequency of the games in the UK, it is a huge drain on our resources and means that we are essentially losing around 800-1200 officers every year to policing football."
Matchday statistics show that incidents occurred at over half of the 3,090 games played during the season. These include fixtures from the Premier League down to the National League, as well as cup competitions and international matches.
Hate crime was the most frequently reported issue, with 420 matches affected. Of those, 287 incidents were race-related, while others targeted sexual orientation (140), religion (20), disability (19), and gender identity (3).
Manchester United topped the arrest figures with 121 fans detained over the season, more than any other club. Manchester City followed with 94 arrests, and West Ham, previously leading for three consecutive seasons, recorded 77.
Public disorder (32%) remained the most common offence, followed by violent disorder (22%) and possession of Class A drugs (19%). Laws introduced in 2022 now mandate a five-year ban for anyone caught with such substances in a football context.
Online hate crime also declined, with 212 incidents reported in 2024–25, down from 322 the year before. Most were connected to the men’s game, with 13 involving women’s matches.
Policing Minister Diana Johnson praised the progress being made:
"Police up and down the country work incredibly hard to ensure football stadiums are safe, so we can all enjoy our national game. Today's statistics show that these efforts are paying off and strong action is being taken to stop violence and disorder from ruining football."
Despite certain improvements, football authorities and police alike continue to face mounting pressure to reduce violence, antisocial behaviour, and hate both online and at stadiums—while making the case that wealthier clubs should contribute more to the costs of keeping the game safe.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Vision plug, Pexels / Lauren Boswell
