Police in England and Wales are pushing for extra funding to help manage matchday disorder, and the case for it just got stronger.
According to the Home Office, arrestable incidents were logged at 1,644 fixtures in England and Wales during the 2025-26 season, the highest total recorded since the UK Football Policing Unit began tracking the figures in 2017-18.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Now, a full breakdown of football fan arrests by club for the season has been released, and the numbers make for uncomfortable reading.
Some of the country's biggest Premier League clubs feature prominently on the list, and the gap between several of them is narrow, painting a picture of an issue that isn't confined to any one corner of the game. Here's how every club in the top ten compares.
10. Tottenham Hotspur - 52 arrests
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium general view
Spurs round out the bottom of the list with 52 football-related arrests across the 2025/26 season. Not the number any club wants to have attached to their name, but being the best of a bad bunch in this situation isn’t something to shout about.
MixCollage-25-Mar-2025-09-48-AM-7183 Related
10 English Clubs With the Most Drug Seizures in 2025 - Man Utd 2nd
The Red Devils were ousted by a fellow Premier League side - and a further five made the top 10
9. Liverpool - 52 arrests
Anfield
Liverpool are tied with Tottenham on 52 arrests, but edge higher due to the larger number of banning orders among their fans. For a club with one of the largest travelling fanbases in the country, it's a figure that will raise concerns despite sitting at the lower end of this list.
8. Portsmouth – 55 arrests
Portsmouth FansAction Images/Paul Childs
Portsmouth's inclusion stands out as they are one of only two clubs outside the Premier League's usual big-city clubs to feature prominently, with 55 arrests recorded over the season.
Moises Caicedo celebrating after scoring for Chelsea Related
The Premier League 'Fair Play' Table in 2025/26 - Chelsea Last by a Distance
Tactics and discipline have seemingly gone back in time this season as set-piece goals and red cards are back in vogue.
7. Leeds United – 59 arrests
Elland Road-1
Leeds United's return to the top-flight has come with 59 football-related arrests, a reminder of the intensity that runs through the club’s fans regardless of division.
6. Everton – 62 arrests
Hill Dickinson StadiumJason Cairnduff via Reuters
Everton sit on 10 more arrests than Liverpool with 62, meaning the two Merseyside clubs combine for 114 arrests when their respective stadiums sit less than two miles apart.
Liverpool fans celebrating Related
17 Most Followed Football Clubs in England Ranked in New Study
The 17 most followed English clubs across social media have been revealed
5. Millwall – 63 arrests
the den millwall
Millwall's reputation precedes them at times, and 63 arrests this season keep that narrative alive, placing them fifth on the list. With bitter rivals West Ham now playing Championship football next season, this number could easily inflate for Millwall by this time next year, as well as see West Ham enter the list, who currently hold the most banning orders of any club in England and Wales (121).
4. Arsenal – 66 arrests
Premier League title shown with Arsenal ribbons of red and white
Titleholders Arsenal racked up 66 arrests, reflecting the scale of their fanbase and the number of high-profile fixtures they've been involved in across the last season, both in the Premier League and Champions League.
3. Manchester United – 67 arrests
Old Trafford
Manchester United sit third with 67 arrests, a figure that comes as little surprise given the size and reach of their support both home and away, with almost 18% of their fanbase coming from London.
Cristiano Ronaldo gets a red card against Manchester City in 2008 Related
20 Clubs With Most Red Cards in Premier League History [Ranked]
From Arsenal to Blackburn Rovers, the aforementioned two are just a couple of the top flight sides that are subject to the odd early dismissal.
2. Chelsea – 76 arrests
Chelsea flag
Chelsea take second spot, and with it the most in London with 76 arrests, some way clear of Man Utd, but still miles behind the club at the very top of this list.
1. Manchester City – 102 arrests
Etihad StadiumReuters/Jason Cairnduff
Manchester City top the table by some distance, with 102 football-related arrests recorded across the 2025-26 season, well over a third more than second-placed Chelsea. To make matters worse for City, the club also sit behind West Ham in second overall for the most banning orders racked up, with 86.
Rank Club Football-Related Fan Arrests (2025-26)
1 Manchester City 102
2 Chelsea 76
3 Manchester United 67
4 Arsenal 66
5 Millwall 63
6 Everton 62
7 Leeds United 59
8 Portsmouth 55
9 Liverpool 52
10 Tottenham Hotspur 52