Lowest number of football banning orders handed out in Scotland for over 10 years

Only 19 banning orders were issued in season 2024/25

Police Scotland have released details of all football banning orders (FBO) issued in the country over the past 10 years. With football fan behaviour under consistent scrutiny, especially with the introduction of pilot schemes to allow the sale of alcohol at football grounds, it is pleasing that this number continues on a downward trajectory.

The number of banning orders issues in 2024/25 was the lowest for over 10 years, (excluding season 2020/21, where all matches were behind closed doors) and was a decrease for the second consecutive season. Scottishfootball.info can today exclusively reveal this data behind over 500 football banning orders, broken down by:

• Season

• Club

• Sex

• Age

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WHAT IS AN FBO?

FBOs, introduced in Scotland in 2006, were described by the Scottish Government as “a preventative measure designed to stop potential troublemakers from engaging in football-related violence or disorder”. A person who receives an FBO is prohibited from attending regulated football matches in Scotland, and may also be required to give up their passport when their team is playing abroad. Additional restrictions can also be imposed, such as prohibiting movements in areas around football grounds on match days

FBOs can be issued by the courts following a conviction for an offence instead of, or in addition to, any sentence the court could impose for the offence. To receive an FBO a person must be involved in violence or disorder which is related to a football match. This can be for offences committed at a match, on the way to or from a match or if it “appears that the offence was motivated by a football match.”

In January of this year, Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said:

“We should all be able to go to a football match and enjoy the game without fear of violence or disorder. Football banning orders can be instrumental in helping us keep fans, players and our communities safe. We will continue to work with the clubs and courts to tackle criminality.”

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BY SEASON