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Home Office 2012-13 football arrest figures released

Newly-released figures show the general downwards trend in football-related arrests is continuing, although the Home Office says there remains a “significant risk” that will change if efforts to tackle disorder are reduced. During the 2012-13 season the number arrests in connection with all international and domestic football matches involving teams from, or representing, England and Wales was 2,4...

Hillsborough witness appeal

The Independent Police Complaints Commission wants to hear from people who gave accounts to the West Midlands Police as part of the original investigation into the Hillsborough disaster. The IPCC are looking at how WMP conducted its own investigation. The IPCC said: "At this stage, we are only asking for brief information from you. We will assess your response and determine what further informatio...

IFO Annual Report 2012-13

The Independent Football Ombudsman’s Annual Report 2012-13 is out now and can be downloaded from this link. The document is a summary of the IFO’s activities, investigations, adjudications and recommendations from last season. In June 2013 the Football Supporters’ Federation met with the IFO, along with our fellow fans’ groups Kick It Out, Level Playing Field and Supporters Direct. Various topics ...

Statement in response to FOI request on West Yorkshire Police

The Football Supporters’ Federation notes with dismay and concern the revelations arising from the Freedom of Information request for emails from within West Yorkshire Police. These appear to undermine the argument that the “bubble match” arrangements for the Huddersfield Town v Hull City game were based on “intelligence” about potential disorder, and rather suggest that the decision was primaril...

Football ID cards via the back door?

Football Supporters' Federation statement on proposed ticket restrictions for the Brighton and Hove Albion-Crystal Palace play-off semi-finals: Fans make up the vast majority of "stakeholders" within the game. The decision to impose unusually stringent ticketing restrictions on supporters seems to have been done without properly consulting the Eagles’ or Seagulls’ fan base. Given the reports that ...

FSF statement on proposed ticket restrictions for Brighton-Palace

The decision by the Metropolitan Police, Sussex Police and the two clubs involved to impose restrictions above and beyond normal ticketing procedures, should they meet in the play-offs, appears to have been done without any consultation with fans’ groups. That alone is enough to cause concern for the Football Supporters' Federation, but it is far from the only issue. Forcing away fans to carry ide...

Fans and players unite against "bubble match"

(Credit @Hull_City_Fans) Fans and players at Hull City will join forces to show their opposition to a “bubble match” enforced by police ahead of Saturday’s Huddersfield Town v Hull City fixture. The peaceful protest also has the backing of Huddersfield Town supporters and the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF). West Yorkshire Police (WYP) announced last month that this Saturday’s Championship c...

Hull City slam "draconian" police travel restrictions

Hull City have released a club statement slamming the “draconian restrictions” placed upon their supporters by West Yorkshire Police for their upcoming match at Huddersfield Town on Saturday 30th March. The police had initially enforced a “bubble match” on supporters before offering a “compromise”. Both options were heavily criticised by fans’ groups. Fans of many clubs, including Huddersfield To...

Hull City fan challenges "bubble" match in court

Fifteen-year-old Hull City fan Louis Cooper is launching a legal challenge against West Yorkshire Police’s (WYP) decision to enforce draconian ticket and travel restrictions for his club’s visit to Huddersfield Town on Saturday 30th March. Last week WYP announced they plan to make the Championship clash a “bubble” match. The decision caused uproar among supporters with fans' groups from both sides...

Football arrests down by a quarter

The Home Office's arrest statistics for the 2011-12 season have been released today and they make for happy reading. The figures show a drop in total arrests of 24% and, on average, less than one arrest is made at every match. Three out of every four games feature no arrests at all.Malcolm Clarke, chair of the Football Supporters’ Federation, said: “The dramatic fall in the number of arrests at fo...

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