Spectator safety: FSA gives evidence to MPs on behalf of fans

FSA chief executive Kevin Miles gave evidence in Parliament yesterday on behalf of football supporters at a session on spectator safety at major sporting events.

MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee are currently examining issues around spectator safety at football and other major events.

This investigation follows on from a rise in football-related arrests and high profile incidents of disorder post-pandemic.

MPs will be considering whether crowd management policies at stadiums in the UK are sufficient to maintain spectator safety and what steps can be taken to protect British supporters at major events abroad.

They will also be examining the effectiveness of legislation concerning football, including the issues of safe standing and alcohol consumption at matches, and whether there “need to be changes to regulations governing fans at matches”.

Kevin told MPs: “There are issues arising in terms of anti-social behaviour which are perhaps on the up, but we are talking about an increase in arrest figures when compared to an all-time low.

“But some of the younger generation need to learn how you behave at football because perhaps that has been missed out on after the hiatus for COVID.”

• Watch the hearing in full here…