Leeds United had highest number of fans arrested last season, new figures show

The Elland Road club had 52 arrests, followed by Birmingham (49) and Bolton (45).

A Home Office report stated: "The club with the highest number of supporters arrested in the 2019/20 season was Leeds United.

"Of the 52 Leeds United supporter arrests, 18 of these were linked to fan celebrations between 17 and 19 July 2020 when Leeds won the Championship."

In total, there were 1,089 football-related arrests in 2019-20, a decrease of 21 per cent compared to 2018-19 but with over 500 fewer matches either played or played in front of fans. The downward trend in the number of banning orders in force and in circulation continued.

Banning orders are issued following a conviction for a football-related offence, and prevent that individual attending all regulated matches in the UK.

The number in force as of August 1 this year was 1,621, a drop of eight per cent compared to the same date in 2019.

The report showed 360 new banning orders were issued in 2019-20, down 34 per cent compared to 2018-19.

Stoke had the most banning orders in force during 2019-20 (52), while Mansfield and Bolton were the clubs whose supporters were issued the most new banning orders in the season – 34 and 24.

Last week, it was reported that rival football thugs who clashed in the "worst violence seen in a decade" had been jailed and banned from matches for more than 100 years.

Leeds and Birmingham fans clashed inside and outside Elland Road last year in scenes that were "like a war zone" according to horrified witnesses.

Shocking CCTV footage shows mobs of supporters battling in the stands at the end of the club's Championship clash on October 19.

Yobs attacked stewards and police officers during the pitched battles, which also saw missiles thrown between the two sets of supporters.

Brawling then spilled into the street outside the ground for around 45 minutes before police were finally able to disperse the crowds.

Bottles and cones were thrown at mounted officers and cops on foot trying to quell the violence. Ten people were arrested on the day.

Leeds Crown Court heard how around 30 away fans tried to stop one yob from being arrested by punching, kicking and spitting at stewards and police officers.

Detective Superintendent Jaz Khan, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “These were some really ugly scenes of violence and the worst crowd trouble to be seen at Elland Road for more than a decade.

“Although only a relative minority of supporters of both sides were involved in these incidents, their behaviour had a significant impact on ground staff and police officers as well as other fans and families attending the game."

Detectives launched a detailed investigation and trawled CCTV and officers’ body-worn camera footage to identify those responsible.

It led to 29 people, mostly Birmingham fans, being charged with violent disorder.

Of those, 23 entered guilty pleas at hearings at Leeds Crown Court in July.

A total of 19 defendants received prison sentences totalling 17 years, with six of those being suspended sentences.

Two youths received youth rehabilitation orders and one other defendant was given a community order.

All were given football banning orders ranging from four to three years to a total of 109 years.

DS Khan added: “Genuine fans, regardless of team loyalties, had no hesitation in condemning what took place, and the support of the public played a huge part in the success of our appeals.

"We worked closely with our colleagues at West Midlands Police to arrest the majority of the suspects in a series of dawn raids.

“The prison sentences and lengthy banning orders they have now received should send a very clear message to those who think they can involve themselves in similar disorder in and around football games without having to face the consequences.

“Behaviour such as theirs is completely unacceptable and has absolutely no place in football where people should be able to support their teams positively in a safe and trouble-free environment.

“What also really stands out is that the vast majority of those involved have little or no previous involvement in football hooliganism yet have rightly received significant punishments from the courts that demonstrate how these offences simply will not be tolerated.”

Five other men have pleaded not guilty and are due for trials in December, May and April.

Another man is due to make his initial appearance at Leeds Magistrates Court next month having been charged later.

A further defendant is due to be sentenced on September 28.