First Charge Under New UK Football Entry Law at Wembley

A 27-year-old man from Oldham, Greater Manchester, has become the first person charged under a new law criminalizing unauthorized entry to football matches in England and Wales, after allegedly tailgating into Wembley Stadium during Sunday's Carabao Cup Final.

Benjamin Bailey was arrested at the match between Arsenal and Manchester City, which Manchester City won 2-0, and charged at 7:45 p.m. that evening with entering the stadium without a valid ticket. He is scheduled to appear at Willesden Magistrates Court on May 1. Tailgating refers to the practice of slipping through turnstiles by walking closely behind legitimate ticket holders. The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act, which took effect just after midnight on March 24, makes such actions a criminal offense, along with using forged tickets, fake accreditation, or impersonating stadium staff.

The legislation stems from widespread disorder at the UEFA Euro 2020 final between England and Italy at Wembley on July 11, 2021. An independent review led by Baroness Louise Casey identified more than 20 near misses that could have caused serious injury or death, as around 2,000 ticketless fans gained entry through 17 security...