Security level at football matches raised to maximum amid fears of far-right disorder

Police will significantly increase their presence at several football matches this weekend amid fears that far-right groups linked to hooligan gangs could cause disorder and violence. i has learned.

As the English football season kicks off this weekend, national police sources have said i that the risk level of several matches involving clubs known to have engaged in hooliganism will be raised to the highest level of Category A. This means that fans can expect a significant increase in police presence at some stadiums.

It is believed EFL authorities are in discussions with police and will consider postponing certain matches if intelligence indicates the threat of far-right violence is too great.

The fear for this weekend’s matches follows Wednesday’s revelation in i that the government is considering imposing football ground bans on fans who commit crimes during riots that have rocked towns and cities across the country since last week’s tragic shooting in which three young girls were stabbed in Southport.

While there are currently no plans to postpone any of the 36 season openers, the EFL, clubs and police are working closely together to assess potential risks surrounding this weekend’s matches.

The English football season starts on Friday with two championship games and one in each of the two lower divisions.

While no Friday matches are considered risky by police, around six Saturday matches are expected to be classified as risk category A due to known far-right elements among a small minority of fans.

According to police sources, these include Millwall’s home game against Watford, Stoke City’s home game against Coventry City, Portsmouth’s away game against Leeds United (all Championship matches) and Walsall’s League Two home game against Morecambe.

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Another match will be held on Monday evening in the birthplace of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, which is being monitored for signs of organised violence.

Luton Town take on Burnley at Kenilworth Road, with an increased police presence expected here too.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, chose his pseudonym in tribute to another Tommy Robinson who was a leading figure in a football hooligan group in his home town.

In 2011, Robinson was convicted of using “threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour” during a fight between Luton Town and Newport County supporters in Luton the previous year.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Taylor of Bedfordshire Police said i: “Ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to Bedfordshire remains our top priority.

“We have enhanced our policing operation and resources for the upcoming match and continue to work closely with Luton Town FC and our communities to create a safe environment for everyone.

“We do not tolerate any form of violence or disorder and anyone who encourages or engages in such behavior will be dealt with swiftly and firmly.”

The National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) manages the resources for each match and collects information from messages on social media sites such as Telegram. This allows for an assessment of the dangers that far-right hooligans pose at each match.

A police source said: “While each regional unit is making its own preparations for this weekend’s matches, NPoCC is also working closely with all units hosting an EFL match this weekend to both pass on intelligence and ensure each unit has the resources it needs to address any potential threat from known hooligan elements.

“The vast majority of all these matches would normally be considered a Category C risk or even a non-police event, where only a match control officer is present with non-uniformed spotters among the crowd.

“But with the increased risk level that has emerged over the past week, some of those low-risk matches are likely to be upgraded to Category A, meaning there will be a much higher police presence than fans are used to at such matches.

“What every fan needs to remember is that the police are there to protect them all and to prevent and defuse situations caused by a small minority of thugs looking for trouble.”

The number of police officers assigned to each stadium will depend on the capacity of each stadium. For example, Millwall’s New Den holds just over 20,000 fans and can expect around 100 officers at the stadium itself, with more on the surrounding streets. Stoke City’s bet365 stadium holds around 30,000 fans and could have around 150 officers on site on Saturday.

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NPoCC has 6,000 riot police officers stationed throughout the country. They are sent from their own forces to matches where they are most needed, as part of the so-called mutual aid within the police service.

Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, added that additional policing will be provided “at the lower levels” of the EFL, on a “match-by-match basis”.

He said: “In reality, with some of those football matches there will probably be a shift of resources to lower levels in order to generate additional support.”

Mr Stephens added that he believed the “community spirit” at football matches could act as a “great counterbalance” to potential disorder.

A study by i has highlighted a number of disturbing examples where violent football hooligan groups appear to be preparing for protests around football matches this weekend.

Evidence of a link between football and the so-called ‘patriotic’ protest movement can be seen on Telegram.

“It’s a call to all football boys to come back together and put our differences aside,” one man says in a video urging people to “come back and rise up again.”

On August 4, another clip was posted in a far-right group with over 7,000 followers and has been viewed about 3,200 times.

With the text “enough is enough”, the man calls on football fans in his seven-minute video monologue to come together in a peaceful march.

“I call on all of us to come back together, all the companies, all the football guys… We have to put our differences aside, we have to come back together, forget what happened in the past, this is bigger than football.”

A football channel described as a “dedicated blog for European football” and a home for “ultras” or “nationalists” has more than 31,000 subscribers who have shared racist images and language, along with calls to “defend Europe” and “natives”. It uses language such as “white rebellion” and “white is best!”.

A message purported to be from a group called the Football Lads Alliance read: “There have been calls (Like this) of the main English football boys to unite the companies again. The last such actions were in 2017-2018, when all the companies from the south to the north of England united for a series of anti-terrorism protests.

“Now is the time to stand together and fight against tyranny and for freedom! England United!”

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On Thursday, the group also posted: “While no one wants violence, indigenous people have a right to their homelands and should not have to resort to riots to be heard.”

i I have contacted all the police forces in a region where an EFL match is being played this weekend and they all said they are prepared and fully equipped for any situation that may arise.

On Thursday morning, Police Minister Dame Diane Johnson confirmed i‘s revelation that the government is considering using existing powers to ban right-wing football fans from matches if they commit violent or racist offences, either on the streets or by inciting people online.

Dame Diana said “all options” were on the table, adding that the idea of ​​imposing football bans on rioters was “being looked at”.

The interior minister said football clubs did not want people involved in disorder “sitting in their stands on a Saturday”.

“I think all options are being looked at, to be honest, and I’m pretty sure most football clubs don’t want to see hooligans and people committing criminal acts in the stands of local communities on a Saturday.

“I think this is a very topical debate that is happening at the moment, and I think there are consequences for people’s bad behaviour on our streets… all tactics and all options need to be looked at.”

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also referred to football hooligans when commenting on his force’s arrests of people during last week’s violent protest in Whitehall.

Sir Mark said: “What I want to make really clear is that those we have arrested are not protesters, patriots or decent citizens. They are thugs and criminals.

“About 70 percent have previous convictions for gun possession, violence, drugs and other serious offences. Some have been banned from playing football. These are violent people who take to the streets under the guise of protest to cause disorder.

“I expect that many, if not all, of those arrested in the past 24 hours will be charged, face trial and spend years in prison.”