Manchester United had the highest number of supporters arrested for football-related offences across England and Wales during the 2024-25 season.
The UK Home Office has released figures for the previous campaign, detailing 1,932 football-related arrests from regulated matches and the issuing of 685 new banning orders over the same 10-month period.
United’s 121 arrests was the highest for any club, with Manchester City second on 94 arrests and West Ham United — who had topped the figures for the previous three consecutive years — third, with 77.
Aston Villa had the largest increase in arrests compared with 2023-2024; their 71 arrests was the fifth highest in England, five fewer than Chelsea, and an increase from 26 arrests in 2023-24.
The overall figure for football-related arrests, meanwhile, decreased by 11 per cent (down by 235) compared to the equivalent matches in the previous campaign.
The most common type of football-related arrests was public disorder, which accounted for 32 per cent of the numbers. Violent disorder made up 22 per cent of arrests, and possession of Class A drugs 19 per cent.
West Ham topped the lists for both the highest number of supporters with active football banning orders in force (112) and the highest number of fans issued with football banning orders during 2024-25 (39).
“Today’s statistics show that these efforts are paying off and strong action is being taken to stop violence and disorder from ruining football,” the UK’s policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said.
A football banning order lasts for between three and 10 years, with individuals who do not receive custodial sentences for the relevant offence serving a maximum duration of five years.
Football banning orders, which can only be issued by a court, are a civil, preventative order and not a part of any custodial sentence.
Outside of West Ham, Chelsea (31) and Manchester United (28) supporters had the highest number of new football banning orders issued to them.
There are currently 2,439 football banning orders in force across England and Wales, with 685 issued in 2024-25 — an increase of two from the previous campaign.
Almost all football banning orders are males, who account for 2,425 (99.4 per cent) of the total numbers. Meanwhile, those aged between 18 and 34 (1,573) account for 64 per cent of those with banning orders.
(OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
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