FSF statement on proposed ticket restrictions for Brighton-Palace

The decision by the Metropolitan Police, Sussex Police and the two clubs involved to impose restrictions above and beyond normal ticketing procedures, should they meet in the play-offs, appears to have been done without any consultation with fans’ groups.

That alone is enough to cause concern for the Football Supporters’ Federation, but it is far from the only issue. Forcing away fans to carry identification under threat of refusal of entry to a match is unnecessary and unwanted.

Would these restrictions be imposed on people going to any other type of event?

The FSF is firmly opposed to football violence, but experience has shown that the best policing measures are those that target individual perpetrators. These measures will only serve to inconvenience the vast majority of ordinary, match-going fans.

This is an issue the FSF will return to should the clubs meet in the play-offs.