Anyone caught with pyrotechnics or smoke bombs will also be banned. These bans could also be extended to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in these activities.
Pitch invaders will receive an automatic club ban under new measures to tackle fan behaviour. The FA, Premier League and EFL have introduced new measures and stronger sanctions across the game to tackle the increased anti-social and criminal behaviours recently seen within football grounds and underline the importance of a safe matchday environment.
It follows concerns raised about safety at grounds after a number of pitch invasions at the end of last season, including at St James Park after Exeter City’s promotion against Barrow, and in the two following games at Northampton and then at home to Port Vale. But now, individuals who carry or use pyrotechnics or smoke bombs will also be banned and identified offenders will be reported to the police.
It is an offence for fans to enter the pitch "without lawful authority or lawful excuse" under the Football Offences Act 1991 – but offenders have not always been prosecuted. Prosecuting offenders will now be the "default response" under the new measures, and all identified offenders will be reported by clubs to the police and prosecution could result in a permanent criminal record, which may affect their employment and education, and could result in a prison sentence
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Furthermore, anyone who enters the pitch and those identified carrying or using pyrotechnics or smoke bombs will now receive an automatic club ban. These bans could also be extended to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in these activities.
The leagues and the FA will:
§ Work with clubs to improve searches of individuals
§ Increase use of sniffer dogs at grounds
§ Work with social media platforms to quickly remove fan-generated videos of illegal behaviour
§ Ask the government to restrict the supply of pyrotechnics and smoke bombs
§ Potentially ban accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in illegal behaviour
§ The Football Association will also implement tougher sanctions for clubs.
The Premier League, EFL and FA will also work with police forces to "establish a new principle for cases relating to pyrotechnics and smoke bombs".
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"The rise in anti-social behaviour that we saw in stadiums at the end of last season was entirely unacceptable and put people's safety at risk," FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said. "Together, English football has introduced new measures and stronger sanctions, for the start of the coming season, to send out a clear message that we will not tolerate this type of illegal and dangerous behaviour.
"It is the responsibility of everyone in the game, including governing bodies, clubs, players, coaches, and fans, to ensure that we all play our part in protecting our game and each other."
Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters' Association, added: "We are contacted by supporters on a fairly regular basis who have been caught jumping on the pitch, or with pyro in the stands, and without exception they regret doing it. Whether they had positive intentions or not is irrelevant in the eyes of the law – pyro and pitch incursions are illegal, you will be prosecuted and you will be banned by your club."
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: “This season sees new measures introduced and sanctions implemented that will serve to remind everyone attending games – but particularly the minority of people behaving in an offensive manner – that there are real life consequences for the criminal, dangerous and irresponsible conduct at football. It is wholly appropriate that these unacceptable behaviours will now be dealt with through a combination of police action and automatic club bans.
“There is nothing like going to watch your team live and that is why the English professional game has taken strong collective action, to ensure the match day experience remains a safe and welcoming environment for all including fans, players, club staff and match officials.”
The new set of actions, which will be implemented across all English football leagues from the start of Season 2022/23 and backed by the Football Supporters’ Association, will target activity such as entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke bombs or pyrotechnics and throwing objects – as well as drug use and discriminatory behaviour.
“These acts are dangerous, illegal and have severe consequences. They have no place in football, or anywhere,” the joint statement added.
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