LONDON, England (AP) — The number of field invasions in football matches in England and Wales last season rose by 127 per cent compared to the last full campaign before the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to recent British Government statistics.

The data provided by the Home Office — a government department responsible for law and order — highlighted the growth in anti-social behaviour at matches, which football authorities are attempting to combat.

On Wednesday the Premier League announced that fans who run onto the field at matches, or use objects like smoke bombs and pyrotechnics, will receive automatic bans from clubs for a minimum of one year.

According to the government statistics, there were 441 matches where field invasions were reported last season — more than double the number in the 2018-19 season.

Football-related arrests were up by 59 per cent to a total of 2,198. That is the highest number since 2,273 were made in the 2013-14 season.

Incidents of disorder were reported at 1,609 of the 3,019 matches last season — equating to 53 per cent — compared to 1,007 matches in 2018-19. There were 384 matches where a hate crime incident was reported, an increase of 99 per cent.

Authorities issued 516 new football banning orders in the 2021-22 season, with 1,308 in force at the end of the season.

“Disorder is a problem that has not gone away,” said Mark Roberts, the head of British football policing, “and throughout the whole of last season we saw an increase in crime at football matches across the country — from the Premier League right down to the [fifth-tier] National League.”

Roberts said drug use and alcohol are key factors behind disorderly behaviour, and that the Government is adding Class A drug offences to the banning order legislation.

The Home Office has moved to ensure the women’s domestic game is covered by the banning orders.

Among the incidents of disorder from last season, Sheffield United Captain Billy Sharp was headbutted in the face by a Nottingham Forest fan at the end of a play-off game in the second division, leading to the fan getting a 24-week prison sentence.

Crystal Palace Manager Patrick Vieira kicked out at an Everton fan who was taunting him during a field invasion at Goodison Park. A Manchester City fan who ran onto the field and taunted Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen on the final day of the season at Etihad Stadium got a four-year banning order.

Speaking while on England duty this week, Tottenham defender Eric Dier said he believes fan behaviour has worsened.

“My family would never go to an away game nowadays because of it, and that’s a shame that I feel too uncomfortable for them to go to away games,” said Dier, who was involved in a confrontation with a supporter following Tottenham’s loss to Norwich in an FA Cup match in March 2020.

Dier climbed into the stands after the fan argued with the defender’s brother. Dier received a four-match ban by the English Football Association and was handed a fine.

Liverpool Captain Jordan Henderson said his family and friends have been discouraged from going to games because of the kind of crowd chaos seen at the European Championship final at Wembley Stadium last year and the Champions League final outside Paris this year.

Results and table

Saturday, September 17

Wolverhampton 0, Man City 3

Newcastle 1, Bournemouth 1

Tottenham 6, Leicester 2

Sunday, September 18

Brentford 0, Arsenal 3

Everton 1, West Ham 0

Premier League table

PosClubPlGDPts

1 Arsenal 7 +1018

2 Man City7 +1717

3 Tottenham7 +1117

4 Brighton6 +614

5 Man Utd6 012

6 Fulham7 +111

7 Chelsea6 -110

8 Liverpool6 +99

9 Brentford7 +39

10 Newcastle7 +18

11 Leeds6 08

12 Bournemouth7 -138

13 Everton7 -17

14 Southampton7 -47

15 Aston Villa7 -47

16 Crystal Palace6 -26

17 Wolverhamton7 -46

18 West Ham7 -64

19 Nott’m Forest7 -114

20 Leicester7 -121