A 27-year-old man has become the first person in the UK to be charged with "football trespassing" after entering League Cup final without a ticket, an incident that occurred following the match.
The new law came into effect on Sunday, just hours before Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0 to win the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The Metropolitan Police stated that 27-year-old Benjamin Bailey, from Fifth Avenue in Oldham, Manchester, will appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court on May 1 in connection with the alleged offense. Two other men were arrested at Wembley Stadium on suspicion of the same offense and remain in custody.
Also on Sunday, during the Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a man was arrested on suspicion of football trespassing. He has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Those convicted of football trespassing face football banning orders of up to five years and fines of up to £1,000. The legislation was introduced following the serious unrest during the UEFA Euro 2020 final between England and Italy in July 2021, when thousands of fans forced their way into Wembley Stadium. The new law aims to crack down on "tailgating"—where ticketless fans follow legitimate ticket holders through turnstiles to enter stadiums.
