Government Reassures Football Clubs As It Considers Banning Orders
2 min read
Government minister Stephanie Peacock reassured clubs and stakeholders ahead of the football season, as far-right rioters involved in last week's unrest could face banning orders.
Peacock, a sports minister, spoke to representatives of more than 30 clubs including stakeholders from the Premier League and English Football Club (EFL). The meeting was dominated by the recent violent protests which had happened across England, how it might impact teams and attendances, and community cohesion.
Many clubs were concerned at how recent events could affect the beginning of the football season, with EFL and National League campaigns set to begin on Saturday.
The meeting with football representatives comes after the Government brought other sports including rugby union, rugby league and sports NGBs, such as Sport England and UK Sport, together to discuss how the power of sport could be harnessed to foster community cohesion and restore calm.
PoliticsHome understands individual clubs will take the lead on banning supporters who were invovled in rioting over the last week. Sheffield Wednesday, a Championship club, has already pledged to stop supporters who were complicit in the violence from attending their matches.
One source at the meeting said the discussion was "positive" and the minister did not conflate the behaviour of rioters with thousands of football fans. There is extra information sharing between clubs and authorities but this happens at the beginning of every football campaign.
Earlier this week it was reported government ministers were working with football clubs, where there conversations about banning fans who had thrown missiles at far-right riots from games.
Football Banning Orders (FBOs) are made after someone has committed a criminal office at a match, can last between three and 10 years, with failure to follow this can lead to a six-month prison sentence. The law would have to be amended for the Government to issue FBOs outside of football matches.
Riots in England started in Southport on Tuesday after three kills were killed in a knife attack. Rioters and violent protestors hurled objects at the police and damaged a mosque in the Merseyside town.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer lamented the riots as "far-right thuggery" and has called for the police to remain on high-alert.
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