Police Call on Football Clubs to Ease Security Burden on 2026

The police call on football clubs to ease the security burden on taxpayers comes as new Home Office data reveals record incident reports at matches. The 2025-26 season saw a 4% increase in games with reported disorder, even as arrests fell to pre-pandemic levels. This growing strain on public resources has sparked urgent demands for clubs to foot more of the bill themselves.

Record Incident Reports Despite Falling Arrests

According to the Home Office annual report released Thursday, 1,644 matches featured reports of football-related anti-social behaviour, violence and disorder in 2025-26, up from 1,580 the previous season. Yet total arrests dropped to 1,695, down from 1,744 in 2024-25 and a pandemic-era peak of 2,198. The data suggests that while fewer fans are being arrested, more behavioural incidents are being flagged to police and governing bodies.

The most common type of incident reported was hate crime, recorded at 491 matches. New categories—including sexism and misogyny and violence against women and girls—were introduced last season, contributing to the overall rise. The Home Office confirmed that without these additions, the increase in reported incidents would have been negligible.

Arrest Rates Across Competitions

The FA Cup proved the most likely competition for arrests, while the women’s game saw just four arrests in total across all matches. The table below compares arrest rates per 100,000 attendees across different men’s competitions.

Men’s matches overall averaged four arrests per 100,000 fans, while the women’s game recorded just four arrests in total across the entire season.

New Legislation and Its Impact

Last season saw the introduction of a new unauthorised entry offence under the Football Spectators Act 1989, resulting in 45 arrests. Without these, total arrests would have declined by 4%. Additionally, behaviour categories for sexism and violence against women were added to the reporting system, leading to 22 matches reported for sexist behaviour and 37 for violence against women.

Police forces across England and Wales are now urging clubs to take greater financial responsibility for security costs. The burden currently falls heavily on local taxpayers, especially for high-risk fixtures that require substantial policing.

Key Takeaways

• Incident reports at football matches reached a record high of 1,644 games in 2025-26.
• Arrests fell to 1,695, continuing a downward trend from pandemic peaks.
• New reporting categories for sexism and misogyny drove much of the increase in incidents.
• Hate crime remains the most common offence, reported at 491 matches.
• Women’s football saw only four total arrests, highlighting a massive disparity.

FAQ

The police call on football clubs to ease the security burden is unlikely to fade. With incident reports rising and taxpayer funds stretched, the pressure is on clubs to invest more in stewarding, CCTV, and crowd management. Fans can also play a role by reporting unacceptable behaviour through official channels.