THE Premier League clubs with the worst-behaved fans have been revealed in a shocking new league of shame.
Fresh Home Office figures reveal which English clubs have topped the table for the most supporters arrested and banned last season.
Teams in two major UK cities made up the shortlist of ardent fans nabbed by cops on matchday.
West Ham United die-hards took the cake for the highest number of arrests, with 103.
Second was Manchester City with 88, third Manchester United also with 88, fourth Arsenal with 85 and fifth Chelsea with 67.
The most common offence was public disorder.
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Arrests rose by 14 per cent to 2,584 in connection with club and international football.
Home Office statistics also revealed that there are now 2,172 banning orders in place in England and Wales, up from 1,624 a year ago.
That included 821 new bans – with those serving them ordered to surrender passports and report to police stations when key matches are taking place.
And following the barmy summer exploits at Euro 2024, 180 arrests were made in England and Wales of fans returning from host nation Germany after they were identified by both UK and German police during the tournament.
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Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the country’s top football cop, said: “Last year we arrested more than 2,500 people, a 14 per cent increase compared to the previous season.
“The number of banning orders is the highest figure for nearly a decade, meaning that they cannot attend any matches, including those at international tournaments.
“This undoubtedly contributed to the improvement we have seen in terms of the total number of incidents.
“That is still above pre-pandemic levels but it’s encouraging to see them stabilising and going in the right direction.”
He added: “It is important that these figures are put into context.
“Last season around 47 million people attended men’s domestic and international matches, the highest number we have on record, and the vast majority of football fans are law-abiding citizens who want to support their team.
“However, there are a small number of fans who commit offences, and we will continue to work closely with the CPS and our other partners to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The return of hooliganism
Across the continent, authorities are struggling to control hooliganism — often aimed at travelling English fans, who receive massive police protection as continental supporters try to test their reputation for street brawling.
Two months ago in Milan a Newcastle United fan was stabbed in the stomach by a machete-wielding yob in a balaclava.
This season was Brighton and Hove Albion’s first taste of competitive European football.
But last month in Athens, tear gas aimed by police at riotous fans of the defeated home team AEK ended up choking Brighton supporters.
In May, West Ham players tried to intervene when hooded fans of Dutch side AZ Alkmaar piled into the section of the stadium where the English team’s families were sitting.
Football’s ruling bodies fear the return of the hooliganism from decades ago, which in 1985 saw English teams banned from Europe for five years after the deaths of 39 mostly Italian fans in the riot at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.
“We’re also working closely with social media companies to ensure that action can be taken against those responsible for online hate crimes.
“Collectively, we need to make football a safe environment for the overwhelming majority of fans who want to enjoy the game, and anyone who commits a criminal offence either outside or inside a football ground.”
The Sun has reached out to all the aforementioned clubs for comment.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
