Football followers who attempt to sneak into matches free face bans and fines
Laws come in at the weekend to prevent repeat of shameful scenes at Euro 2020 final
Tailgating football fans who try to sneak into matches without paying face five-year bans and £1,000 fines under new laws.
Legislation will come in this weekend to stop supporters forcing their way through stadium turnstiles by staying closely behind legitimate ticket holders.
The law will be in place ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley.
The stadium was the scene of Euro 2020 final chaos as thousands of ticketless hooligans smashed their way in using the ‘tailgating’ tactic.
The new act makes it illegal to enter a stadium without a ticket.
It will also be illegal to knowingly attempt to get in using forged tickets, passes and accreditation documents or by posing as a member of stadium or playing staff.
Until now there were no legal penalties for entering grounds without tickets.
Offenders will be arrested and face football banning orders of up to five years and big fines.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Tailgating and forced entry puts fans at risks, particularly at sold out or high-profile fixtures.
“They can cause overcrowding and injury, divert police resource away from other critical areas, and increase tension between legitimate ticket holders and ticketless fans.”
Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said: “Football fans should be able to enjoy the game without feeling unsafe or threatened.
“We’re giving the police the tools they need to ensure the chaos we saw at Wembley five years ago never happens again.
“Anyone who endangers others by forcing their way into stadiums faces serious consequences.”
Following the 2020 Euro final – which England lost to Italy on penalties – the Football Association commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to undertake an independent review into the disorder.
It recommended strengthening laws to deter football-related disorder including tailgating and forced entry.
A Government-sponsored Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Labour Amber Valley MP Linsey Farnsworth.
With England and Wales set to co-host Euro 2028 the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act will tackle these risks now so that fans can enjoy world-class football safely.
Baroness Casey said: “Forcing your way into a football match without a ticket isn’t harmless.
“It jeopardises the safety of legitimate fans and staff.
“Making tailgating a criminal offence makes it clear that this behaviour is dangerous, won’t be tolerated and those who do it will face consequences.”
