More than 40 Black Cats fans banned from football grounds

More Sunderland fans are banned from football grounds than any other team in last season's League One, new figures show.

Home Office figures show 44 banning orders were in p l ac e a ga i n s t Su n d e rla n d supporters as of August 1 – the highest of the 24 clubs in last season's league – although the club does attract by far the biggest crowds.

The figures also show no Black Cat supporters were arrested for racist and indecent chanting in 2019-20, compared to nine in the previous five seasons, and nine Sunderland fans were arrested for other offences – including four for pitch invasions and two for public disorder.

The UK’s football police chief said disorder was on the rise across the top five divisions before coronavirus restrictions forced more than 500 fixtures to be cancelled or played behind closed doors.

Banning orders are issued following a conviction for a football-related offence, and prevent offenders attending all regulated matches.

There were 1,621 orders issued nationally this year – a decrease of 8% on the same date in 2019 – but with 546 matches either cancelled or played without fans.

N at i o n a l l y, a r re s t s f o r racist and indecent chanting more than doubled compared to the campaign before – despite the severe restrictions on fan attendance.

More than 40 fans are banned from football grounds. Picture by Frank Reid

There were 35 such arrests in 2019-20 compared to 14 in 2018-19. The figures also show

25 Newcastle United fans being made the subject of banning orders, one arrest for racist chanting and 23 general arrests - including 15 for violent disorder and two alcoholrelated offences.

The UK’s football police chief, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said police normally see more incidents as seasons end, when titles and relegation battles are decided.

He said: "What we can see is that prior to the restrictions from COVID-19, there was already an increase in the levels of disorder at fixtures.

“In the previous season, there were incidents reported at 33% of 3,022 fixtures, and for the 2019-20 season, there were incidents reported at 36% of the 2,663 regulated fixtures.

“Significantly, the number of assaults against stadium staff and police officers are worryingly close to what we saw from a full season in 2018-19.”