Fall in number of banned fans
TOTAL OF 23 ORDERS AGAINST SUNDERLAND SUPPORTERS – WITH RIVALS NEWCASTLE TOPPING SHAME LIST
The number of Sunderland fans banned from attending football matches has fallen – while rivals Newcastle United remain top of the league for most supporters barred from going to games.
On August 7, Sunderland had 23 banning orders – a drop from 37 last year, and 39 in 2014/15, and putting them well down the table.
The Magpies, on their return to the Premier League, had 111 banning orders against supporters, a decrease from 124 last year and 132 in 2014/15.
On the same date, Middlesbrough had 33 as of August 7 this year, up from 26 last year and 29 in 2014/15.
Hartlepool United were on 13, down from 25 last year.
Newcastle were followed by Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers with 75.
The number of footballrelated arrests decreased overall to 1,638 in 2016/17, down 257 (14%) compared with the previous year.
Championship club Birmingham City had the highest number of fans arrested last season at 72, followed by Premier League outfit West Ham United with 67.
The most common cause for arrest was public disorder, which accounted for 31% of recorded incidents, followed by violent disorder (21%) and alcohol offences (16%).
There was a drop in public disorder incidents from 583 in 2015/16 to 505 last year, and violent disorder (369 to 337), but increases in missile throwing (59 to 91) and pitch incursion (188 to 204).
The numbers showed a sixth consecutive drop in overall banning orders, from 2,085 in 2015/16 to 1,929 last year.
The figures mark a considerable drop (39%) from 3,174 in 2010/11.
The number of football related arrests fell to 1,628 REPORT