15 English Football Teams With Most Fan Arrests Over Past 5 Seasons

In football, discipline is essential. If players are consistently being sent off, giving away penalties, and losing their composure, no club can hope to win any significant games.

But discipline among football fans is a different matter entirely. Even while hooliganism in Britain has improved over the nineteenth century, when most teams’ stadiums were the scene of frequent acts of violence, some members of almost every fan base still find it difficult to act responsibly on game day.

Using data from SeatPick, it is evident how common illegal football-related conduct has been during the previous five seasons. According to the data, public disorder accounts for more than a third (37.32%) of all football-related arrests, making it the most frequent reason. However, which group of supporters is more accountable for the number of arrests in English football? Continue reading to find out more.

The English football teams that have been arrested the most in the last five seasons

Supported Rank

Club

Arrests Associated with Football

15.

Wanderers of Bolton

137

14.

Liverpool

146

13.

Newcastle United

148

12.

City of Leicester

154

11.

The Millwall

164

10Everton

Everton has experienced many highs and lows over the past few years as they have consistently underperformed in the Premier League yet have managed to escape relegation. The amount of arrests around the stadium may be attributed to unhappiness among the fans.

The club’s move from Goodison Park to their new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock for the 2025–2026 season is excellent news since it might boost morale. It will be interesting to see if the atmosphere created by their soon-to-be former stadium will be maintained following the transfer, since it has the potential to produce some of the best in British football.

9Birmingham City

One of the most intense football rivalries in the UK is the Second City rivalry between Birmingham City and Aston Villa; perhaps this contributes to the impressive 174 arrests of Blues supporters during the previous five seasons.

Two red cards have been issued between the two sides in 14 Premier League derbies. That may not sound like much, but there have only been more dismissals in four more Premier League derbies.

Birmingham will undoubtedly compete against Villa in the English top division in the not-too-distant future, as they appear to be promoted to the Championship in 2024–2025. Meanwhile, their illegal fan base might surrender to their glamorous new proprietors.

8Tottenham Hotspur

Fans of Tottenham Hotspur can at least take pride in the fact that their supporters are more disciplined than those of their north London rivals, Arsenal, even though they haven’t had a trophy to celebrate since 2008. That might surprise you, especially since a Spurs supporter was banned from sport for four years after he was charged with assault after kicking Aaron Ramsdle following the Gunners’ 2-0 victory away from home in January 2023.

Ranking seventh on this list, chairman Daniel Levy is frequently held responsible for any animosity that exists within the team. Supporters frequently demonstrate on the pitch to voice their disapproval of the club’s management. It remains to be seen whether his inevitable departure, whenever it is, would improve Tottenham’s mood.

7Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club has endured a lot in the last several seasons. The departure of long-time owner Roman Abramovich in 2022—who was compelled to sell because of sanctions placed on Russian oligarchs connected to Vladimir Putin after the country’s invasion of Ukraine—was the impetus behind it all.

The West London team has had 179 football-related arrests over the last five years, suggesting that the chaos behind the scenes, which has caused the team to struggle to perform regularly in the Premier League, is also reflected among the fan base. Perhaps in the future, the number could be decreased with greater stability on match days. That is unlikely to change anytime soon, as Todd Boehly will continue to make decisions until 2027.

6Leeds United

In all of British football, Leeds United supporters are some of the loudest and most fervent. Furthermore, one of the most frightening stadiums in the area is Elland Road, the home field. It should come as no surprise that the club is ranked so highly among all English clubs when considering those two characteristics.

The Yorkshire team has experienced both the highs and lows of promotion and relegation during the last five seasons. Anyone may act foolishly out of that kind of intensity, even fans who are already inclined to be quite passionate. Next season, a return to the Premier League may also be on the cards.

5Arsenal

Arsenal isn’t known for being a particularly intimidating team. The Emirates is really thought to be among the least intimidating stadiums in the nation. So, finding out where they stand in these rankings may come as a bit of a surprise.

Nevertheless, their supporters have never been afraid to express their genuine emotions, particularly when outcomes don’t align with their expectations. Indeed, the Emirates may be a poisonous place to be during terrible times. That might have contributed to the 192 arrests. It will be fascinating to observe whether arrests in the area decline if Mikel Arteta can deliver the eagerly anticipated Premier League title.

4Manchester City

Fans of Manchester City have been able to enjoy triumph after success until recently. Pep Guardiola has, in fact, accomplished much more in the last five seasons than supporters could have ever dreamed of before the 2008 takeover, including Premier League titles and the Champions League.

That hasn’t, however, been sufficient to stop negative fanbase behaviour. The Cityzens have made 259 football-related arrests, which is a huge increase from Arsenal’s 192. Perhaps in the excitement of all that success, discipline has been lost.

3Manchester United

Manchester United’s 266 arrests demonstrate how the entire city has been giving local cops a lot of trouble lately. With 76 arrests, public disruption was the most common reason for Red Devils to be arrested.

Furthermore, Manchester United supporters have the largest number of arrests for entering the pitch (23), and they lead in alcohol-related offences (36) as well, underscoring the fact that celebrations—or annoyances—frequently go too far. All of these problems off the pitch could be somewhat attributed to struggles on the pitch in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Perhaps crowd conduct will improve with a brand-new stadium that aims to revitalise the Old Trafford region.

2West Ham United

Over the last five seasons, West Ham United supporters have notched up 317 arrests, making them the Premier League’s top team in that category. They come in second on our list because of their regrettable reputation for unruly behaviour.

With 93 active in the 2023–24 season, the Hammers do, in fact, hold the record for most football banning orders since records began in 2014–15. Tensions frequently boil at West Ham games, with 126 arrests attributed to public unrest. Furthermore, with 47 arrests connected to objects being thrown into the pitch, the club’s supporters also lead the league in missile-throwing events.

1England

To the surprise of some, the worst-behaving football fans are those from England. Over the last five seasons, they have been involved in 636 arrests related to football, which is slightly more than twice as many as the next-closest fandom and makes up 7.71% of all arrests involving football fans.

You can’t help but wonder whether international football is a way for all the unruly supporters of other teams to vent their frustrations. With public disorder leading the way in arrests during England games (443) and violent disorder coming in second (111 arrests), it appears that high-stakes games frequently encourage wrongdoing. In addition, there have been 31 arrests for criminal damage, 26 for alcohol offences, and 10 for pyrotechnics possession.

The unsavoury scenes from England’s defeat by Italy in the Euro 2020 final increased the number of arrests. In the previous five years, this was the one game that had the most arrests (39). Approximately 2,000 individuals attempted to enter Wembley Stadium illegally in order to see the action, while COVID regulations allowed for some seats to be unoccupied. 17 people were arrested on July 11, 2021, for violent disorder, 12 for public disturbance, 7 for criminal damage, 2 for alcohol offences, and 1 for offensive weapon possession.