The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026: What fans need to know

Apr 22, 2026 | By: Peter Stringfellow

Match day safety in English football is entering a new era. With the introduction of the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026, the Government has taken decisive action to curb tailgating, ticket fraud and other forms of unlawful access to stadiums. The act came into force on 22 March 2026 making it a criminal offence to enter or to knowingly attempt to gain entry without valid authorisation, by using forged tickets or fake accreditation.

But what does this mean in practice for supporters, clubs, and the wider football community?

The spark for reform can be traced back to the UEFA Euro 2020 Final at Wembley (which took place in 2021 due to the pandemic), an event overshadowed by significant crowd disorder and widespread tailgating. In the aftermath, the Football Association (FA) commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to conduct an independent review. One of her central recommendations was to strengthen the legal framework to address forced entry and ticketless fans.

The new Act aims squarely at closing gaps in previous law, which relied on a patchwork of trespass and public order offences that didn’t fully capture modern ticketless entry behaviours.

Section 1 of the Act creates a standalone criminal offence of entering or attempting to enter a designated football without a valid ticket.

Accordingly, the act seeks to prevent tailgating through turnstiles, using forged, stolen or fraudulent tickets to enter stadia, climbing barriers or accessing restricted zones or even posing as staff or players.

Those found guilty face not only a criminal record but fines of up to £1,000 but may also be made the subject of a football banning order of up to 5 years.

For fans, the days of thinking “I’ll try my luck getting in” are over. The risks are now significant and long‑lasting.

Even attempting to tailgate or use a forged ticket can trigger an offence. Supporters are urged to buy tickets through official club channels and avoid risky third‑party resellers.

Baroness Casey called the legislation “a significant step forward in improving safety and the matchday experience for fans across the country,” and with the first individual already charged under the new law, for allegedly tailgaiting at the Carabao Cup Final on the day of its accession to statute, its impact is being felt immediately.

As the busy schedule of football events at Wembley and beyond continues, the message is clear, ticketless entry will no longer be the means to fulfil a footballing dream, but instead a criminal offence highlighting that such behaviour is unacceptable.

It is argued by many that football is safer for it, though the “beautiful game” in an effort to prevent ugly scenes of mass trespass has become further removed from those that cannot afford to purchase a ticket, legitimately or otherwise, and the FA would do well to organise initiatives to enable placement of tickets in the hands of diehard fans as opposed to following the corporate pound, so that the game can remain universally enjoyed by all.