Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026

Offence of unauthorised entry to designated football matches

1

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

(1A) (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.

Extent, commencement and short title

2

• (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.