Incidents of disorder at football matches in England and Wales increases

LONDON: Arrests and reported incidents of disorder at football matches in England and Wales increased again last season.

There were 2,264 football-related arrests during 2022-23, according to Home Office figures.

That is an increase on the previous season, when there were 2,198 football-related arrests, and is the highest number since 2013-14.

The 2022-23 figures include those from the women’s game for the first time.

The figures are elevated in part because arrests for the possession of Class A drugs at games have been included for the first time, along with arrests made in England and Wales relating to overseas matches.

The possession of Class A drugs added 200 arrests during the 2022-23 season, while there were 101 arrests in England and Wales relating to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

No arrests were made in connection with this summer’s Women’s World Cup.