Last amended by Football (Disorder) Act 2000 in 2000. Extended banning orders to cover international matches, introduced civil banning orders on complaint, and strengthened passport surrender requirements.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Football Spectators Act 1989 introduced football banning orders to prevent known hooligans from attending matches in England and abroad. Following disorder at Heysel and Hillsborough, it created a licensing scheme for grounds and established the Football Licensing Authority (now Sports Grounds Safety Authority).
Key Points
- Creates football banning orders preventing attendance at matches (Part II)
- Courts may make orders on conviction for football-related offences
- Police may detain passports during control periods for international matches
- Orders can require reporting to police station during matches
- Failure to comply with banning order is a criminal offence
- Establishes Football Licensing Authority for ground safety (Part I)
- Football banning orders on conviction for football-related offences (s.14A)
- Banning orders on complaint (civil standard of proof) (s.14B)
- Requirement to surrender passport during control periods (s.14E)
- Duration: 3–5 years (no custodial sentence) or 6–10 years (with) (s.14F)
- Sports Grounds Safety Authority role in ground safety (Part I)
- Offence to breach a banning order (s.14J)
- Football banning orders (domestic and international)
- Restrictions on travel for designated football matches
- Requirement to surrender passport during control periods
- Linked to broader anti-hooliganism legislation
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2000 — Football (Disorder) Act 2000
Extended banning orders to cover international matches, introduced civil banning orders on complaint, and strengthened passport surrender requirements.
2000 — Football (Disorder) Act 2000
Strengthened banning order regime and introduced banning orders on complaint.
2000 — Football (Disorder) Act 2000
Strengthened banning order provisions for international matches.