Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay Excerpts

Friday 16th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Moynihan (Con)]

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Brennan, for successfully steering this Private Member’s Bill through the House. As we have discussed, following Second Reading I did not table amendments in Committee since the Bill had the support of the Commons, is an important step in its own right in addressing the issue of fans entering football grounds without permission, and needed to make progress to finalise its passage through another place in this Session.

However, during the passage of the Bill I sought to encourage the Government to address the abuse and corruption of modern-day touts in the criminal secondary football ticketing market, the inadequate funding for the CMA to bring prosecutions and the growing evidence of corrupt stewards, usually working with someone outside the grounds or on social media, providing a facsimile of a digital ticket to a purchaser for payment. On match days, the purchaser is made aware of what turnstile to go to with the facsimile and which member of staff to speak to in order to allow them illegal entry into the stadium with a master access card or override button on the turnstile.

This is a growing problem and I hope both cases will be considered by the Home Office and addressed in legislation, not least that on secondary ticketing which will hopefully come before the House in the next Session. In the meantime, I wish the noble Lord well and thank him for all his work on this Bill, in the hope that, by avoiding any further protracted debates, the Bill may reach the statute book in this Session.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Brennan of Canton, should be very proud; I do not think there can be many people who have introduced the same Bill in consecutive Sessions, in two different Parliaments and two different Houses, with support from two different Governments. We thank him very much for his part in ushering these provisions on to the statute book.

The provisions flow from the review led by the noble Baroness, Lady Casey of Blackstock, commissioned by the Football Association, into the events at the Euros final at Wembley in 2021 and the sensible recommendations of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, of which I think the noble Lord was a member in another place in the last Parliament. The previous Government supported these provisions before the general election and these Benches are happy to reiterate our support today. I am glad that extends to my noble friend Lord Moynihan, who was the author of the parent Act that the noble Lord’s Bill will amend.

As noble Lords who have followed our other debates on football know, this is an area of public policy that usually passes me by. I have only ever been to one football match in my life, authorised or otherwise, and I cannot remember who won it, but I am looking forward this evening to seeing a play, “Gerry & Sewell”, which follows the adventures of two likely lads from Gateshead trying to obtain season tickets to see Newcastle United. It began in an arts space above a fried chicken shop in Whitley Bay and is playing the West End for the next two weeks. So, football touches the hearts of us all. We are very grateful to the noble Lord for his Bill and wish it a speedy passage on to the statute book.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Lemos) (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions to this rather lovely debate. I am sorry that the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, cannot remember who won—probably very diplomatically. I thank particularly the noble Lord, Lord Brennan of Canton, for championing this important measure through both Houses. As the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, said, it is a really important achievement.

I also thank the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, formerly Colin Moynihan, the MP for Lewisham East, where I was one of his constituents and where, despite my heroic campaigning efforts, he kept winning. Today we find ourselves more or less on the same side. I can confirm that the Government have noted his observations and will think seriously about them, and I am glad to have been working with my friend, the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, from our younger days until now.

This Bill is about protecting fans and ensuring that football matches remain safe, welcoming events for all. Unauthorised entry, whether by tailgating or forced entry, puts genuine supporters at risk, strains security and undermines match day experience. With Euro 2028 matches to be played in England and Wales, we must address these issues now so that fans can enjoy world-class football in safety and confidence. This Bill will create a clear offence of unauthorised entry and empower courts to impose football banning orders. Banning orders are a proven deterrent; they prevent repeat offenders jeopardising safety and send a strong message that dangerous or dishonest behaviour will not be tolerated. I should make it clear that this is not about punishing honest mistakes; its safeguards ensure that only those who deliberately flout the rules will be caught.

This is a proportionate, targeted and necessary measure which reflects the unique public order challenges associated with football that are not seen to the same extent in other sports or events. The Bill is consistent with the broader framework of the Football (Offences) Act 1991. It has enjoyed cross-party support throughout its passage and has been welcomed by both the Football Association and the police as a timely and effective response to a growing problem. It is a fan-friendly measure that will protect the vast majority of decent supporters from the actions of a dangerous minority and will help ensure that football remains a safe, welcoming environment for everybody. I commend it to the House.