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Football’s worst-behaved fan bases have been revealed with the number of arrests being made at football matches during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons having risen to levels last seen in the 2013-14 campaign. 

The damning figures also revealed that 682 banning orders had been issued last season, an increase of 32 per cent on the previous year and the highest figure recorded since 2010-2011 (960). 

The Home Office have announced that 2,264 fans were arrested during the 2022-23 season in connection to domestic and international football matches involving English and Welsh clubs.  

The report also stated that 90 per cent of the arrests involved supporters of clubs in the top-five English divisions, with 200 of those being related to the possession of class A drugs.

But data taken in August 2023 by The Home Office has now revealed the clubs with the worst offending fan bases, with Manchester United ranking top as the team who had the greatest number of fans banned last season – with 69 banning orders being issued to United fans.

Arrests made at football matches spiked in 2022-23 to highs that were last seen in 2013-14

Arrests made at football matches spiked in 2022-23 to highs that were last seen in 2013-14 

West Ham United were the club with the largest number of fans arrested at games in 2022-23 

The clubs with the highest number of fans banned at matches
  2022-23 season2022-23 season2021-22 season2021-22 season 
 ClubFootball banning orders Ranking Football banning orders Ranking
1. Man United6924 14 
2. Millwall 66 52 
3. Leicester City 56 36 
4. Birmingham City 54 57 
5. West Ham  52 34 

A football banning order issued by the courts prohibits an individual from attending all regulated matches in the UK. 

The orders are made under section 14A of the Football Spectators Act 1989 with the courts aiming to prevent violence and antisocial behaviour at football matches. 

Millwall follow Man United on the list with 66 banning orders being issued to supporters of the club last season, while Leicester, who were relegated to the Championship, had 56 fans banned. 

Birmingham City were third with 54 bans while West Ham were ranked fifth with 52 fans being issued with court orders. 

The clubs with the most fans arrested have also been revealed, with the Hammers topping the table with 89 fans being detained during the 2022-23 season.

Figures state that around 69 per cent of those fans had also been arrested at the London Stadium. 

Meanwhile, Man United placed second with 83 supporters being arrested during the 2022-23 campaign, with their rivals Leeds United following them with 69 fans being arrested. 

Treble winners Manchester City had 66 fans arrested during their title-winning season, while north London Rivals, Tottenham and Arsenal both had 51 fans arrested. 

The number of football banning orders issued has also increased, with 682 bans being issued last season

The number of football banning orders issued has also increased, with 682 bans being issued last season

The clubs with the highest number of fans arrested at matches 
Club  Arrests  during the 2022-23 seasonArrests at home games (%)Most common type of offence 
1. West Ham8969%Public disorder (27 arrests) 
2. Man United 83 49% Violent disorder (20 arrests) 
3. Leeds United  69 43% Public disorder (25 arrests) 
4. Man City 66 68% Public disorder (17 arrests) 
5. Tottenham51 51% Public disorder (18 arrests) 
6. Arsenal 51 43% Public disorder (17 arrests) 
Damning figures show that 89 West Ham fans were arrested in 2022-23, the most of any club

Damning figures show that 89 West Ham fans were arrested in 2022-23, the most of any club 

Equally, during the 2022-23 season, 123 arrests were made in connection with fans supporting the England and Wales national sides. 

That is an increase from the 38 arrests made in connection with both teams during the 2021-22 season. 

The report states that no arrests were made in connection with the Women’s World Cup last July and August in Australia and New Zealand. 

The most common offence types were for public disorder (34 per cent) and violent disorder (21 per cent), while the possession of class A drugs counted for nine per cent of all arrests made. 

In January 2023, a probe conducted by MailOnline revealed that cocaine was found in eighty per cent of toilets tested at both the north London derby and the Manchester derby.

From November 2022, any person caught possessing class A drugs at a regulated football match can be subjected to a banning order.   

Paul Lewis, chair of the Football Safety Officers Association (FSA), said on the findings: ‘I’m not shocked at all by what MailOnline has uncovered. For those of us working in the game, cocaine use at football is very common.’ 

The UK’s top football officer Chief Constable Mark Roberts has also warned that more fans than ever were taking the drug at matches which had the potential to cause a ‘toxic mix’ of violence.

Roberts added: ‘As we see more violent incidents, cocaine is one of those factors along with alcohol that will make it worse, and make people more violent.’ 

Treble winners Man City had 66 fans arrested last season, 68 per cent were made at home

Treble winners Man City had 66 fans arrested last season, 68 per cent were made at home

Unsavoury scenes erupted during West Brom's 2-0 defeat by Wolves back in January

Unsavoury scenes erupted during West Brom’s 2-0 defeat by Wolves back in January 

Speaking on the use of class A substances at football matches, Daily Mail’s Ali Jones writes: ‘The cocaine problem at football – and in society more generally – is a huge one. 

‘There’s evidence of that every weekend, at the back of the toilets where people have been sticking stuff up their nose.

‘You see white powder in cubicles up and down the country on any given matchday now. 

‘And it’s not just in football. I know a lot of fans who simply don’t want to travel away these days.’

The Home Office’s figures come after several incidents have happened this season that have required police to detain supporters. Earlier this month, police confirmed they had arrested a spectator after Man United supporters were allegedly overheard singing tragedy chants towards Liverpool fans during their FA Cup quarter-final victory at Old Trafford.

In January, six spectators were arrested after West Brom’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against rivals Wolves was suspended by more than 30 minutes due to ‘inexcusable’ violence in the stands at The Hawthorns. 

It was the first derby between the West Midlands clubs in 12 years. But it was marred by unsavoury scenes as supporters stormed the pitch and threw missiles. 

Some players were also seen attempting to rescue family members from the stands, with Kyle Bartley rushing over to rescue his two children as supporters clashed

The Football Association subsequently said that it would conduct an investigation into the scenes that unfolded during Wolves’ 2-0 win and charged West Brom with misconduct.

The FA alleged that the Baggies had failed to ensure spectators had conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. 

A probe by MailOnline found cocaine had been used at matches throughout the Premier League in January 2023. Our team used lab-approved swabs (pictured above) which instantly turned blue to indicate the presence of cocaine in the stadium toilets

A probe by MailOnline found cocaine had been used at matches throughout the Premier League in January 2023. Our team used lab-approved swabs (pictured above) which instantly turned blue to indicate the presence of cocaine in the stadium toilets 

In some cases, cocaine was visible on the top of toilet cisterns and on toilet roll holders

In some cases, cocaine was visible on the top of toilet cisterns and on toilet roll holders

It comes amid a huge surge in football-related violence at all levels, fuelled by drug use

It comes amid a huge surge in football-related violence at all levels, fuelled by drug use 

Mail Sport revealed earlier today that 1,600 England fans with football banning orders will be prohibited from following the Three Lions at the Euros in Germany this summer. 

The spectators will be forced to surrender their passports to police from June 4 until the end of the tournament in a bid to ensure they do not attend matches abroad. 

Those who fail to hand in their passports or attempt to travel will face a large fine or even a prison term, with a maximum six-month sentence. 

‘The vast majority of fans are law-abiding, but we will have zero tolerance for those who disrupt this incredible event,’ Policing Minister Chris Philip said. 

‘These measures will ensure true football fans can travel to the tournament safely and prevent hooligans from committing these crimes abroad. Violence, abuse, and disorder have no place in the game we love.’ 

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This post first appeared on Daily mail

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