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Christmas is a busy time for football supporters with a packed fixture schedule and, for some, plenty of alcohol. Occasionally even too much. The vast majority of matches pass without major incident, of course, but sometimes things do go wrong for individual supporters.

Following news reports this week that Cheshire Police plan to expand their use of DNA spray technology during their football policing operations, chief executive of the FSA Kevin Miles issued the following statement: 

Earlier this month, FSA members approved a motion at our AGM to oppose the introduction of facial recognition technology at the turnstiles in the English game.

We’re coming to the end of the season and it isn’t uncommon to see pitch invasions as teams clinch promotion or even a play-off spot. Alongside that is the issue of pyro use and the consequences for supporters who don’t understand how seriously it is taken by the authorities.

Christmas is a busy time for matchgoing fans with a packed fixture schedule and, for some, lots of alcohol. Occasionally even too much. The vast majority of matches pass without major incident but sometimes things do go wrong for individual supporters.

York City Supporters’ Trust have called for an independent review into Cleveland Police’s football operations following the force’s handling of City’s trip to Hartlepool earlier this year.

Sunday’s scenes at West Bromwich Albion v Wolves led to the announcement of an FA investigation within hours of the incident happening – and the FSA is keen to hear from supporters who were actually at the match so that your experiences are heard too.

The overwhelming majority of match-day experiences pass without incident but occasionally things do go wrong.

How many football fans out there know what the Independent Football Ombudsman (IFO) is and how the IFO can help? Not enough in our opinion. 

The English football authorities are introducing a series of measures to help improve the behaviour of players, managers and coaches across the professional, National League system and grassroots game, as well as addressing the issue of football tragedy abuse.

Ahead of the new season a number of Football Supporters’ Association member groups have asked us to pull together a guide outlining the law when it comes to pyro and pitch invasions. Read on…

How many supporters know about the Independent Football Ombudsman (IFO)? Not enough. If a complaint to your club fails to get the response that you’d hoped for, then you need to speak to the IFO whose chief ombudsman is appointed by the Premier League, the FA and the EFL. 

For 16 years the Football Supporters’ Association’s Amanda Jacks (aka Fair Cop) has been fighting for the rights of football fans – so it’s with a heavy heart that we announce Amanda is moving onto new things. 

Today the EFL has unveiled its new supporter sanctioning guide, developed with the FSA, to assist its 72 clubs in dealing with supporter behaviour issues.

Pitch incursions have been all over our screens in the past week, with a number of incidents in the Premier League, EFL play-off semi-finals, and non-league drawing widespread condemnation.

Last weekend’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool might have been short on goals, even if it was a great game, but viewers will have noticed an abundance of smoke bombs.

Far too many clubs still ban fans without a meaningful appeals process according to our caseworker Amanda Jacks. She explains what fans are up against…

There have been a handful of high profile flashpoints between fans and stewards in recent weeks leading many supporters to write to the FSA with complaints. Here FSA caseworker Amanda Jacks runs through a nine point plan to radically improve the quality of match-day stewarding…

Fans of Cardiff City have criticised South Wales Police for utilising facial recognition technology without prior consultation at their game against Swansea City.

Match-day policing is to come under the spotlight as part of a new research project being run by the EFL and Keele University.