Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Carl Markham

Premier League to meet with police to discuss rise in crowd disorder

PA Wire

The Premier League will meet with police this week to discuss concerns over increased incidents of crowd behaviour and disorder.

Last weekend there were incidents in two separate matches of objects being thrown at players while, overall this season, there has been an increase of 47 per cent in football-related arrests.

The number of cases is up to 802 from 547 in 2019-20, the last campaign from which comparable data is available due to behind-closed-doors matches.

There have also been more incidents of fans encroaching onto the pitch, the latest coming during Southampton’s home match with Manchester City.

The Premier League is working collaboratively with the Football Association and EFL and will meet the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) to discuss recent issues.

While all clubs have developed security and safety policies with their local forces, it is understood the Premier League will discuss with the UKFPU what actions can be taken to reduce incidents.

A smoke cannister was thrown onto the pitch at Brighton recently (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire)

On Sunday two men were arrested after objects were thrown at Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger from the away section housing Tottenham fans at Stamford Bridge.

After Aston Villa defenders Matty Cash and Lucas Digne were struck by a bottle at Everton on Saturday, a 19-year-old man was charged with assault and throwing an item on to the pitch.

Fan disorder has also been growing on the continent, with Marseille having two matches abandoned after objects were thrown while a pitch invasion by fans halted the Lens-Lille derby in September.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.