Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the leading official for football policing in the UK, has argued that the current model for funding match-day security is unsustainable. He contends that wealthy football clubs should shoulder the financial responsibility for policing areas outside their stadiums, a burden currently placed on taxpayers at a cost of £70m annually.
Data from the Home Office reveals that incidents were reported at 1,644 matches last season, the highest total since records began in 2017-18. While “high severity” incidents rose to 159, Professor Geoff Pearson of the University of Manchester cautions against overreacting to these numbers. He notes that actual arrests have decreased, suggesting that improved reporting systems by clubs may be the primary cause of the statistical rise in reported incidents. Pearson praised British policing practices, highlighting the decline in violent disorder arrests as a success.
The latest report also details a rise in online hate crimes, with 405 incidents recorded. Additionally, football banning orders have reached their highest level since 2012, totaling 2,460. West Ham currently leads in banning orders, while Manchester City recorded the most arrests. The report also covered the 2026 World Cup, where, despite good fan behavior abroad, significant domestic unrest occurred during England fixtures, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing fan conduct.
