It’s illegal and dangerous… and we will not tolerate it
Football’s crackdown on yobs
PITCh invaders and fans with flares will face automatic club bans in a footballwide crackdown aimed at curtailing the worrying rise in criminal behaviour at matches.
Incidents of supporters rushing on to the pitch have increased of late, sparking concern about the safety of footballers. Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp was assaulted by an invader during last season’s Championship play-off semi-finals, resulting in a prison sentence for a Nottingham Forest fan.
Tougher measures announced by the Football Association, Premier League and eFL yesterday — and backed by the Football Supporters’ Association and PFA — now mean fans will automatically lose their right to watch football if they get on the pitch.
That includes young supporters who hop over the advertising boards in a bid to meet their favourite footballers. Parents and guardians who let their children invade may also be banned, a statement on the new sanctions outlined yesterday.
‘All identified offenders will be reported by clubs to the police and prosecution could result in a permanent criminal record, which may affect their employment and education, and could result in a prison sentence,’ a joint- statement from the FA, Premier League and eFL warned, adding that clubs will face stronger charges and sanctions, too.
Players and managers have been advised not to engage with invaders, and social media companies are being asked to remove footage which encourages such behaviour.
Since 1991 it has been an offence to enter the pitch without permission, but that rule has tended to be ignored when a club is celebrating promotion or avoiding relegation. Yet several incidents, including Crystal Palace manager Patrick
Vieira reacting to an everton fan verbally abusing him, have forced football’s authorities into action.
As well as pitch invasions, the FA, Premier League and eFL are aiming to reduce the presence of pyrotechnics and smoke bombs. They want to crack down on those who throw objects as well as drug use and discriminatory behaviour.
‘These acts are dangerous, illegal and have severe consequences,’ the joint- statement added yesterday. ‘They have no place in football, or anywhere.’
There will be enhanced stadium entry searches from the start of the 2022-23 season and increased use of sniffer dogs at grounds.
The FA, Premier League and eFL have also written to policing minister Tom Pursglove requesting a review of the laws on the sale of pyrotechnics and smoke bombs. ring-pull smoke grenades are available for as little as £3 online.
FA CeO Mark Bullingham said the sanctions send a message that ‘we will not tolerate this type of illegal and dangerous behaviour’.
Premier League counterpart richard Masters added: ‘We are making clear the type of incidents we saw last season must stop. If we don’t take collective and sustained action, it may only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or worse.’
Football Supporters’ Association chief executive Kevin Miles said: ‘We are contacted by supporters on a fairly regular basis who have been caught jumping on the pitch, or with pyro in the stands, and without exception they regret doing it. Whether they had positive intentions or not is irrelevant in the eyes of the law — pyro and pitch incursions are illegal, you will be prosecuted and you will be banned by your club.’