Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026

2026 Chapter 1

An Act to create an offence of unauthorised entry at football matches for which a football banning order can be imposed following conviction.

Enacted [22nd January 2026]

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

^I1^I31 Offence of unauthorised entry to designated football matches¶

Amends Football (Offences) Act 1991 · 1 insertion

section 1 unchanged

1A Unauthorised entry

1 A person (“P”) commits an offence if—

a P enters, or attempts to enter, premises for the purpose of attending a designated football match, and

b at the time of entry or attempted entry, P does not have a match ticket for the match that P is eligible to use.

2 It is a defence to prove that P had lawful authority or lawful excuse for entering, or attempting to enter, the premises.

3 It is a defence to prove that—

a P entered, or attempted to enter, the premises through an entry point normally used by spectators,

b at the time of entry or attempted entry, P had something that they reasonably believed was a match ticket for the match, and

c the thing that P had—

i was not a match ticket for the match, or

ii was a match ticket for the match but P was not eligible to use it.

4 In this section—

“match ticket” means a ticket or other thing (whether in physical or electronic form) which authorises a person to enter premises for the purpose of attending a designated football match;
“premises” includes any place.

In the Football (Offences) Act 1991, after section 1 (designated football matches) insert—

1A Unauthorised entry

1 A person (“P”) commits an offence if—

a P enters, or attempts to enter, premises for the purpose of attending a designated football match, and

b at the time of entry or attempted entry, P does not have a match ticket for the match that P is eligible to use.

2 It is a defence to prove that P had lawful authority or lawful excuse for entering, or attempting to enter, the premises.

3 It is a defence to prove that—

a P entered, or attempted to enter, the premises through an entry point normally used by spectators,

b at the time of entry or attempted entry, P had something that they reasonably believed was a match ticket for the match, and

c the thing that P had—

i was not a match ticket for the match, or

ii was a match ticket for the match but P was not eligible to use it.

4 In this section—

“match ticket” means a ticket or other thing (whether in physical or electronic form) which authorises a person to enter premises for the purpose of attending a designated football match;
“premises” includes any place.

^I2^I42 Extent, commencement and short title¶

1 This Act extends to England and Wales only.

2 This Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint.

3 This Act may be cited as the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026.

Footnotes

I1
S. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 2(2)
I2
S. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 2(2)
I3
S. 1 in force at 22.3.2026 by S.I. 2026/288, reg. 2
I4
S. 2 in force at 22.3.2026 by S.I. 2026/288, reg. 2

Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026

I1I31 Offence of unauthorised entry to designated football matches¶

1A Unauthorised entry

I2I42 Extent, commencement and short title¶

Footnotes

^I1^I31 Offence of unauthorised entry to designated football matches¶

^I2^I42 Extent, commencement and short title¶