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New legislation coming into effect ahead of the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley will make it a criminal offence to enter football matches in England and Wales without a valid ticket. Those caught sneaking into stadiums unlawfully could face a football banning order lasting up to five years and fines reaching £1,000.
This legal change is a direct response to the significant disorder that occurred during the 2021 European Championship final between England and Italy at Wembley, where thousands of fans breached security and entered the venue without tickets. The new law primarily aims to address the issue of “tailgating,” a tactic where individuals without tickets slip into the stadium by closely following genuine ticket holders through the turnstiles. Additionally, it will now be illegal to try to gain access using fake tickets, passes, or identification, or by impersonating stadium staff members.
Before this act, there were no specific legal measures in place to penalize those who entered football stadiums without permission. Typically, offenders were simply removed from the premises without facing further consequences. Policing Minister Sarah Jones emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment for fans, stating, “Football fans should be able to enjoy the game without feeling unsafe or threatened,” and highlighted that the new powers would help prevent incidents like those at Wembley five years ago, warning that “anyone who endangers others by forcing their way into stadiums faces serious consequences.”
The legislation follows a report commissioned by the Football Association and led by Baroness Louise Casey, which warned that the breaches of security at the Euro 2020 final could have resulted in fatalities. The report revealed that approximately 2,000 individuals gained illegal entry, including breaches of disabled access points and emergency exits. Baroness Casey’s findings underscored the need for tougher sanctions and made it clear that tailgating should be classified as a criminal offense. Notably, Italy triumphed over England in that final, winning on penalties to claim the European championship. Looking ahead, England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland will jointly host Euro 2028
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