Manchester United had arrested the highest number of fans during the 2024-25 season, new statistics were unveiled.
Data from the home office has shown that there were 1,932 football -related arrests with regard to competitions played in England and Wales last season, which represents a decrease of 11 percent compared to the previous campaign.
In total, 1,803 football -related arrests were supporters of clubs in the top six layers in the English football last season.
The figure represents a clear decrease of 12 percent compared to the previous campaign, when 2,023 fans were arrested. It is the first drop because fans returned to stadiums after Covid-19.
Man United was confirmed that it had arrested most fans during the season with 121.
A total of 49 percent of the arrested during the Red Devils matches came in their house in Old Trafford, which at 74,310 is the largest in the Premier League. Violent disorder and public disorders were the most common violation, with 34 arrests.
Earlier this week a ticket holder from a Man United Season received a three-year football file for hitting man City star Jack Grealishe after the Manchester Derby in April. The fan also received a fine of £ 120 and ordered £ 85 costs and a surcharge of £ 48.
Man City had the second highest number of arrests at 94, with West Ham in third place at 77. West Ham had previously arrested the highest number of supporters for three consecutive seasons.
Chelsea and Aston Villa completed the top five with 76 and 71 arrests respectively. Aston Villa had the biggest increase that 26 fans had arrested the previous season.
Man United, Man City, Chelsea and Aston Villa were all involved in the European competition last season, while West Ham was only involved in domestic action with the Hammers from Europe after three consecutive years.
Arsenal was the sharpest decrease in the number of fans arrested last season with a drop of 43. This followed the Gunners with the biggest increase in the 2023-24 season with 34.
The Home Office stated that there was a larger part of the arrests of road supporters, with 980 arrested during the season compared to 806 home games.
While 89 percent – 1,725 arrests – related to matches in domestic matches in England and Wales, the figures revealed that 10 percent – 189 arrests – came from matches in European competitions. One percent – 18 arrests – came from international competitions.
Another 31 arrests with regard to competitions that were played outside of England and Wales, with no included in international competitions abroad.
The home office added that the most common type of arrest was for the public disorder, which was good for 32 percent. This was followed by violent disorder with 22 percent and the possession of class A medical merchandise with 19 percent.
The latter was at the highest level, because in November 2022 it became a schedule 1 attack, with arrests that rise from an initial nine percent in 2022-23.
From 1 June there were 2,439 prohibited orders with 685 new orders issued over a period of 10 months from 1 August 2024 to 31 May. (August 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025)
The prohibitions prevent individuals from attending competitions in the UK and can lead to fans being ordered to transfer passports to the police before overseas competitions and tournaments.
The figure is the highest number since the end of the 2012-12 season, while the total has risen by 12 percent from the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
West Ham had the highest number of fans with the prohibition of orders for the second consecutive season, an increase from 93 to 112.
Man United has the second highest with 108, followed by Chelsea at 80. Their prohibitions increased from 89 and 54 respectively. Man City and Leicester round the top five with 76 and 70 that prohibit orders.
The Home Office stated that during the season from 2024 to 2025 West Ham, Chelsea and Manchester United Supporters have issued the highest number of new football gates, with 39, 31 and 28 respectively.
Police Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, stated that the data reflected the efforts made to stop violence and disorder around football matches, provided annually with £ 2.5 million to finance the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit.
“The police up and down through the country works incredibly hard to ensure that football stadiums are safe, so we can all enjoy our national game,” she said.
'Today's statistics show that these efforts are bearing fruit and a strong action is being taken to prevent violence and disorder from ruining football.
“As part of our plan for change, we continue to make football safer for the millions of dedicated fans, the financing of the British football police unit and the expansion of drug tests in arresting at football matches for certain violations.”
Despite the decrease in the arrests, the number of competitions with reported incidents increased by 18 percent from 1,341 to 1,583.
Hate crime was the most mentioned incident in 420 matches, followed by throwing rockets and the use of pyrotechnics in 363 and 319 competitions respectively.
From the hate crime reports, 287 incidents related to race, 140 to sexual orientation, 20 to religion, 19 to disability and three to gender identity.
The number of hate crime reports had risen from 341 in the 2023-24 season.
Online hate crime incidents recorded declined from 322 in the 2023-24 campaign to 212 last season.
Of these, 199 related to men and 13 related to women's football.