Dozens of Sheffield United and Wednesday fans arrested for...

Last season, a number of Sheffield football fans were detained for public disturbance, drug-related stadium entry,

and pitch entry.

54 Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday supporters were detained for football-related disorder during the

2023–24 season, according to new statistics.

Both a supporters’ group and a policing council have cautioned that the troublemakers are a very small percentage of

football fans.

A total of 2,584 arrests were made in relation to domestic football in England and Wales as well as international

matches featuring the national teams, which is a 14% rise from the previous season.

Sheffield United arrests

Home Office figures show 30 Sheffield United fans were arrested in the 2023-24 previous season. This was up from 27 the season before.

These included:

Home Office figures show 24 Sheffield Wednesday fans were arrested for football-related disorder. This was the same number as the season before.

These included:

Despite the rise in arrests, National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for football policing, Chief Constable Mark Roberts,

said the number of matches where football-related incidents were reported has fallen by 12 per cent.

“That correlates with the proactive approach we have seen from police forces across the country,” he added.

Mr Roberts cautioned it was important to put these figures into context.

“Last season around 47 million people attended men’s domestic and international matches, the highest number we

have on record, and the vast majority of football fans are law-abiding citizens who want to support their team,” he

said.

“However, there are a small number of fans who commit offences, and we will continue to work closely with the CPS

and our other partners to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

This minority of troublemakers should receive less attention, according to a statement from the Football Supporters

Association. It also stated: “The problem with this hyper-focus on arrest tables is it makes football seem like a

dangerous place, which kids and families should steer clear of, and that’s just not true.”

Although the organisation acknowledged that “there are going to be incidents at almost any sports event, street

funfair or music festival,” it would prefer to see fewer arrests.

According to the statistics, as of the end of the season, 27 Sheffield United and 29 Sheffield Wednesday supporters

were facing banning orders that would have prevented them from going to football games for a predetermined

amount of time.