Akona | Football Offences Act 1991

Football Offences Act 1991

Designated football matches

References in this Act done at a designated football match include anything done at the ground:

Within a period beginning two hours before the start of a match or (if earlier) two hours before the time it is advertised to start and ending one hour before the end of the match or;
Where the match is advertised to start at a particular time on a particular day but does not take place on that day, within a period beginning two hours before and ending an hour after the advertised starting time.

Throwing of Missles

Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985

It is an offence at a designated match to throw anything at or towards the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area to which spectators are not generally admitted or any area where spectators or other persons are present without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for him to prove).

Indecent or racialist chanting

It is an offence to take part in the chanting of an indecent or racialist nature at a football match. For the above purpose:

"chanting"- the repeated uttering of any words or sounds in concert with one or more others;
"of a racialist nature"- consisting of or including matter which is threatening, abusive or insulting to a person by reason of his colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.

Going onto the playing area

It is an offence for a person at a designated football match to goon to the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area where spectators are not generally admitted, without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for him to prove)