Ticketless Fans Face Criminal Charges at Matches

From Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, entering football stadiums in England and Wales without a ticket will be a criminal offence.

The new law targets “tailgating” and forged passes, with offenders facing fines up to £1,000 and football banning orders of up to five years.

It follows the Euro 2020 final chaos at Wembley, where around 2,000 fans forced entry. A report warned the disorder could have led to deaths.

Policing minister Sarah Jones said the legislation ensures “the chaos we saw at Wembley never happens again.” Wembley Stadium’s director added it will protect genuine ticket holders from overcrowding and injury.

The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act comes ahead of Euro 2028, co-hosted by the UK and Ireland.