Manchester United recorded the highest number of fan arrests among all English and Welsh clubs last football season, according to new data from the UK Home Office.
United Tops the Unwanted List
During the recent campaign, 121 Manchester United supporters were arrested, placing them at the top of an unfortunate league table. This marks a shift from previous seasons.
Following closely behind United were their city rivals, Manchester City, with 94 arrests. West Ham United came in third with 77 fan arrests. Interestingly, West Ham had previously held the top spot for fan arrests in the three seasons prior to this one.
Where Did the Arrests Happen?
Nearly half of the arrests involving Manchester United fans occurred at their home ground, Old Trafford. Out of these, 34 incidents were specifically linked to public or violent disorder.
Overall Trends in Fan Behavior
On a more positive note, the 2024-2025 season marked the first time that overall football-related arrests have decreased since fans returned to stadiums after the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests a potential turning point in stadium safety.
Despite the overall drop, public disorder remains the most common reason for arrest, accounting for 32% of all incidents. A concerning trend also emerged with arrests for possession of Class A drugs, which rose to 19%. This is the highest percentage recorded since it became a Schedule 1 offense in November 2022.
The Rise of Banning Orders
Alongside the arrest figures, there’s been a notable increase in football banning orders. As of June 1, 2025, a total of 2,435 fans are banned from entering stadiums across England and Wales. This represents a 12% increase compared to the same time in 2024 and is the highest number since the 2012-13 season.
These banning orders prevent individuals from attending matches in the UK. In some cases, fans may even be required to surrender their passports to police before their club’s overseas fixtures.
West Ham United currently has the most supporters under banning orders, with 112, an increase of 19 from the end of 2024. Manchester United is second with 108 banned fans, up from 89. Chelsea, which was eighth previously with 54 bans, has now moved to third place with 80 supporters barred from stadiums.
Addressing Hate Crimes in Football
The data also highlighted a significant number of hate crime incidents. Out of 1,583 matches, at least one hate crime was reported in 420 fixtures. This means roughly one in four matches saw such an incident.
Of these hate crime reports, the majority (287 incidents) were related to race. Other categories included sexual orientation (140), religion (20), disability (19), and gender identity (3).
- Manchester United recorded the highest number of fan arrests (121) last season.
- Overall football-related arrests saw their first decrease since the post-COVID return of fans.
- Football banning orders have reached a 12-year high, with 2,435 active bans.
- Hate crimes were reported in nearly a quarter of all football matches, with race-related incidents being the most common.
These statistics offer a comprehensive look at fan behavior in English football, revealing both ongoing challenges and crucial areas for improvement.
