A football banning order can be made against anybody convicted of a football -related offence. They ban people from attending Premier league or football league games for a specified period of time, between three and 10 years. They can even sometimes be made even if you have not been convicted of any criminal offence. A football banning order can include a number of different terms, but will usually include some or all of the following:

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• Prohibiting attendance at a designated football match

• An exclusion order banning you from going within a specified area around the football ground for up to 2 hours before or two hours after a designated football match;

• Requiring you to surrender your passport before an international match; and

• Requiring you to attend a police station whilst a game of football is in progress to prove that you have not attempted to sneak in.

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As you can see from this list the impact of a football banning order can be quite severe. This is why it is really important to have legal advice all the way through the process, from people who not only understand the law but understand football as well.

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A football banning order must be made by the court if you are convicted of a football -related offence,Provided that the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that making such an order will help prevent violence or disorder in the future.

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The list of football -related offences is quite wide, As you can see from this list. It does not only include offences committed in a football ground but those committed going to or coming away from a match (such as drink-driving):

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• Possession of alcohol or being drunk while entering or trying to enter the ground;

• Disorderly behaviour;

• Offences involving the use or threat of violence towards another person or property;

• Offences involving offensive weapons;

• Being drunk and disorderly;

• Driving with excess alcohol, or whilst unfit through drugs.

• Throwing missiles during a football match;

• Indecent or racist chanting;

• Entering the playing area;

• Unauthorised sale of tickets.

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Even if you have not been convicted of a criminal offence, and even if you've never been charged with an offence, the police can still apply to the court for the making of a banning order. They can do this if they have evidence that you have been involved in any violence in the United Kingdom. This is often based on police intelligence or CCTV analysis.

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Just because an order has been applied for does not mean that it will be made. Our team of specialist solicitors will examine the police evidence, together with anything that you tell them, and will look at the best way to oppose the application.

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Legal aid is often available to fight a banning order being made, and if not we will advise you about any private costs that you might incur. We will always tell you about this before spending any money on your behalf, so that you know exactly what you will be getting into. We do not like surprising people with unexpected bills.

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If a banning order has been made you can apply t the court to end it early. See our separate page about this here.