A new law will take effect this weekend across England and Wales, making it a criminal offense to enter a football match without a ticket. This comes just in time for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley.
This legislation follows a review led by Baroness Louise Casey, which revealed that hundreds of ticketless fans stormed Wembley during the Euro 2020 final, putting lives at risk.
Under the new law, individuals caught will face harsh penalties, including a five-year football banning order and fines of up to £1,000.
Baroness Casey’s report criticized the leniency of previous sanctions for breaches at stadiums and specifically called for the criminalization of “tailgating,” the act of entering behind a legitimate ticket holder.
Policing minister Sarah Jones emphasized the significance of these new regulations. In comments to the Press Association, she mentioned, “This is a new piece of legislation, and the police are strategizing on how to implement it effectively.”
Offenders now face a five-year football banning order and a fine of up to £1,000 (Baroness Casey Review/Handout/PA Wire)
Jones noted that this law equips officers with “more tools” to deter individuals who disrespect paying fans by attempting to enter without paying.
She added, “This is something that I don’t think anyone could oppose. It’s unacceptable that some pay while others don’t, especially when it compromises safety. Therefore, a £1,000 fine or a five-year ban will serve as a strong deterrent.”
There were previously no specific legal repercussions for attending a football match without a ticket.
The new Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act expands coverage to include attempts to enter using forged tickets, passes, or falsely claiming to be a member of the stadium staff.
This legislative effort is a direct result of the independent review of the chaotic European Championship final at Wembley on July 11, 2021. Baroness Casey’s report emphasized over 20 critical incidents that could have led to severe injuries or fatalities due to ticketless attendees attempting to gain entry during the match between England and Italy.
About 100,000 people attended the final, with approximately 2,000 entering without tickets, and there were 17 significant breaches of the gates in the 90 minutes leading up to the game and continuing until the penalty shootout.
Concerns regarding fan safety were further intensified after the disastrous experiences faced by Liverpool supporters during the 2022 Champions League final in Paris, where authorities were deemed responsible for significant issues at the Stade de France despite initial blame directed at Liverpool fans.
The new regulations will be implemented just as Manchester City is set to compete against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 PM.