As fans return to the stands, we look at attendances at every game across the Premier League, EFL and non-league, including the weekend’s biggest attendances.
It’s been a busy few days for football matches, with fans from across the country passing through the turnstiles to watch their respective teams play.
The weekend saw the most anticipated clashes, city derbies, managerial debuts and with that in mind you can also see all the scores.
Premier League
championship
League One
League 2
national league
FA Cup qualifying second round
Level 7 + 8
Football Association statement:
The FA, Premier League and EFL are working together to introduce new measures and tougher sanctions to tackle recent anti-social and criminal behavior at football stadiums and highlight the importance of a safe playing environment.
The new set of actions, which will be implemented across all English football leagues and is backed by the Football Supporters’ Association, will target activities such as entering stadiums without permission, carrying or using smoke grenades or fireworks and throwing objects, as well as drug use and discriminatory behaviour.
These actions are dangerous, illegal, and can have serious consequences. They have no place in football or anywhere.
The Club will report all identified offenders to the police and prosecution may result in a permanent criminal record which may impact on their employment and education and may result in jail time. The FA will also impose stricter fees and sanctions policies on clubs, which will strengthen these measures.
In addition, anyone entering the ground and those caught carrying or using fireworks or smoke grenades will now automatically be subject to a club ban. These prohibitions may also extend to accompanying parents or guardians of children attending these events.
The safety of everyone participating in the game is the game’s shared priority. We know the actions of some fans last season did not represent the majority of supporters and had the potential to ruin a wonderful football experience for everyone. We are therefore working with clubs to highlight the important role that fans, clubs, players and coaches have to play in helping to create a safe environment.
Our strong and collective approach reflects the seriousness with which we all take this issue and the seriousness of the risks. No one should be intimidated or assaulted in the workplace. The field must remain safe for players, coaches and game officials, just as the stands should be safe for fans.
To further support this action, the FA, Premier League and EFL are working with police forces, the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) and the Crown Prosecution Service to develop new principles for cases involving pyrotechnics and smoke bombs and unauthorized entry into stadiums. This means that co-operation in the prosecution of these cases will become the default response from football authorities and the criminal justice system, sending a clear and unambiguous message to all offenders.
Other measures to be implemented include working with clubs to strengthen search regimes and increase the use of sniffer dogs at venues. We will also work with our clubs, players and coaches, government, broadcasters, police and social media platforms to try to stop these behaviors from spreading further or being accepted within English football. This includes working with social media platforms to build new ways to more quickly remove fan-generated videos of illegal behavior at football matches, including violent crime and pitch invasions. It also includes calls for the government to reform regulations to limit the supply of fireworks and smoke grenades.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “We all know that football can play a fantastic and unique role in bringing communities together. However, the increase in anti-social behavior we saw in stadiums at the end of last season is completely unacceptable and puts people’s safety at risk. English football has jointly introduced new measures and tougher sanctions at the start of next season to issue a A clear message that we will not tolerate this illegal and dangerous behavior. Football stadiums must provide a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for everyone and it is the responsibility of everyone in the game, including governing bodies, clubs, players, coaches and fans, to ensure that we all play our part in protecting our game and each other.”
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “Everyone should feel safe and able to enjoy football matches. Together with clubs and partners across football, we have made it clear that incidents like the ones that happened last season must stop. If we don’t take collective and sustained action, it could only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or worse. “These new measures are a strong response to the significant increase in fan behavior issues, but we know that the behavior of a small number of people is unacceptable and illegal. The Premier League should be a fantastic experience for everyone and we do not want future matches to be affected by incidents like this.”
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “The new measures introduced and sanctions imposed this season will serve as a reminder to everyone who attends the game, and in particular the minority who behave aggressively, that criminal, dangerous and irresponsible behavior in football has real-life consequences. These unacceptable actions are now being dealt with through a combination of police action and automatic club bans The behavior is completely appropriate. There is nothing better than watching your team live, which is why the English professional game has taken strong collective action to ensure that the matchday experience remains a safe and welcoming environment for everyone including fans, players, club staff and match officials.”
Football Supporters Association chief executive Kevin Miles said: “We are regularly contacted by fans who have been caught jumping on the pitch, or carrying flames in the stands, and without exception they regret doing so. From a legal perspective it doesn’t matter whether they had positive intentions or not – flames and trespassing on the pitch are illegal and you will be prosecuted and you will be banned from the club.”
To support this new policy and course of action, a football-wide campaign is launched today. ‘Love football. Protecting the Game will make clear the consequences and sanctions for illegal and dangerous behaviour, and we seek to urge fans to help us protect the game and keep everyone safe.