Man City and Man United football arrests last season revealed in league table of shame

A total of 176 fans of both Manchester City and Manchester United were arrested for football-related offences last season, new data reveals. The figures put City and United in joint second place in the football arrest league for England and Wales.

Fans of both clubs were arrested 88 times last season. Both clubs also had 20 arrests for possession of class A drugs, the statistics reveal.

West Ham United topped the table, with a total of 103 Hammers fans held for football-related offences in 20223/24, according to the latest figures from the Home Office. Arsenal were in fourth place in the arrest league with 85 arrests. The Gunners are followed by Chelsea (67), Newcastle (61), Tottenham (55), West Brom (51) and Millwall (47).

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The figures show the number of arrests made in connection with football in England and Wales rose for the third consecutive year during the 2023-24 season. Arrests made at international tournaments and those made for possession of Class A drugs were a driving force behind the increase, according to a Home Office report published on Thursday.

But police chiefs warned of 'context' over the figures. The National Police Chiefs' Council's Lead for Football Policing, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, said: "While the total number of incidents is still above pre-pandemic levels, it's encouraging to see them stabilising and going in the right direction, with a 12 per cent fall in the number of matches where football-related incidents were reported.

"That correlates with the proactive approach we have seen from police forces across the country. It is important that these figures are put into context.