Manchester United Leads in Fan Arrests During 2024-25 Season

New data from the Home Office reveals that Manchester United supporters accounted for the highest number of arrests last season, totaling 121. Across England and Wales, there were 1,932 football-related arrests, marking an 11% decline from the previous year.

Supporters from top-tier clubs in English football were involved in 1,803 arrests, representing a 12% drop from 2,023 in the prior season — the first decrease since fans began returning to stadiums post-Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

However, there has been a concerning rise in arrests related to possession of Class A drugs at football matches. Last season saw 378 arrests for this offense, a 189% increase from 200 the previous year. Manchester United fans led this category with 27 arrests, followed by West Ham (26), Newcastle (24), and Liverpool (18).

The majority of arrests (49%) occurred during matches at Old Trafford, which hosts the largest stadium in the Premier League with over 74,000 capacity. Common offenses included violent and public disorder, with 34 arrests in this category.

Earlier this year, a Manchester United fan received a three-year Football Banning Order after assaulting a rival player, alongside fines and costs. City rivals Manchester City had the second-highest arrest count with 94 supporters, followed by West Ham (77) and others.

Overall, support for West Ham saw the highest number of banning orders, with 112 in place — the highest since 2012. Manchester United was close behind with 108, and Chelsea with 80.

Policing efforts continue to target violence, with increased funding and expanded drug testing at matches. Despite fewer overall arrests, incidents of reported violence increased, with hate crimes being the most common issue, rising from 341 to 420 reports last season.