Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 (2026 c. 1)

1 Offence of unauthorised entry to designated football matches

In the Football (Offences) Act 1991, after section 1 (designated football matches) insert—1AUnauthorised entry(1)A person (“P”) commits an offence if—(a)P enters, or attempts to enter, premises for the purpose of attending a designated football match, and(b)at the time of entry or attempted entry, P does not have a match ticket for the match that P is eligible to use.(2)It is a defence to prove that P had lawful authority or lawful excuse for entering, or attempting to enter, the premises.(3)It is a defence to prove that—(a)P entered, or attempted to enter, the premises through an entry point normally used by spectators,(b)at the time of entry or attempted entry, P had something that they reasonably believed was a match ticket for the match, and(c)the thing that P had—(i)was not a match ticket for the match, or(ii)was a match ticket for the match but P was not eligible to use it.(4)In this section—“match ticket” means a ticket or other thing (whether in physical or electronic form) which authorises a person to enter premises for the purpose of attending a designated football match;“premises” includes any place.

2 Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales only.

(2) This Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026.