The Football Spectators (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2025

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 871

SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Football Spectators (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2025

Made

15th July 2025

Laid before Parliament

16th July 2025

Coming into force

5th September 2025

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 14(2) and (2A) and 22A of the Football Spectators Act 1989(1).

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Football Spectators (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2025 and comes into force on 5th September 2025.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

Amendment to the Football Spectators (Prescription) Order 2022

2.  The Football Spectators (Prescription) Order 2022(2) is amended in accordance with articles 3 and 4.

Amendments to article 3: regulated football match

3.  Article 3 (regulated football match) is amended as follows—

(a) in paragraph (2)(a)(iii) omit “Football Association”;

(b) in paragraph (2)(a)(iv) for “Football Association Women’s Championship” substitute “Women’s Super League 2”;

(c) in paragraph (2)(a)(v) for “the Football Conference” substitute “the National League”;

(d) in paragraph (2)(a)(vi) omit “League”;

(e) in paragraph (4)(b)(iii) omit “Football Association”;

(f) in paragraph (4)(b)(iv) for “Football Association Women’s Championship” substitute “Women’s Super League 2”;

(g) in paragraph (4)(b)(v) for “the Football Conference” substitute “the National League”;

(h) in paragraph (4)(b)(vi) omit “League”.

Amendments to article 4: regulated football organisation

4.  Article 4 (regulated football organisation) is amended as follows—

(a) after paragraph (e) insert—

“(ea) the Women’s Super League Football Limited”;

(b) in paragraph (f)(iii) omit “Football Association”;

(c) in paragraph (f)(iv) for “Football Association Women’s Championship” substitute “Women’s Super League 2”;

(d) in paragraph (f)(v) for “Football Conference” substitute “National League”;

(e) in paragraph (f)(vi) omit “League”.

Diana Johnson

Minister of State

Home Office

15th July 2025

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Football Spectators (Prescription) Order 2022 (“the 2022 Order”), which prescribes football matches and competitions for the purposes of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (“the 1989 Act”).

Under the 1989 Act, certain restrictions and requirements may be imposed on individuals in relation to prescribed football matches, including the imposition of football banning orders.

This Order updates the 2022 Order to reflect the current names of the following football competitions and organisations: the National League, the Women’s Super League, the Women’s Super League 2 and Cymru Premier. It also adds a new entity, “the Women’s Super League Football Limited”, to the list of prescribed organisations.

These amendments ensure that the prescription of matches competitions and organisations under the 1989 Act remains accurate and up to date with current league structures and naming conventions.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. The Explanatory Memorandum is available at www.legislation.gov.uk; copies may be obtained from the Home Office at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.

(1)

1989 c. 37. Section 14 was substituted by paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 to the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 (c. 25) (“the 2000 Act”) and amended by section 103 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26). Section 14(2A) was inserted by section 190(8) of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32). Section 22A was inserted by paragraph 18 of Schedule 2 to the 2000 Act.

(2)

S.I. 2022/617.