The Football (Offences) (Designation of Football Matches) (Amendment) Order 2025

Citation, commencement and extent 1.

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Football (Offences) (Designation of Football Matches) (Amendment) Order 2025 and comes into force on the 5th September 2025.

(2)

This Order extends to England and Wales.

Amendment to the Football (Offences) (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2004 2.

In Article 3(2) (designated matches) of the Football (Offences) (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2004—

(a)

for “Football Conference” substitute “National League”;

(b)

for “Football Association Women’s Super League” substitute “Women’s Super League”;

(c)

for “Football Association Women’s Championship” substitute “Women’s Super League 2”; and

(d)

for “Welsh Premier League” substitute “Cymru Premier”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Football (Offences) (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2004 (“the 2004 Order”), which designates certain football matches for the purposes of the Football (Offences) Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”).

Under section 1 of the 1991 Act, it is an offence to engage in certain types of disorderly behaviour at designated football matches. The 2004 Order specifies which matches are designated for this purpose.

This Order updates the terminology used in the 2004 Order to reflect the current names of the following football competitions: the National League, the Women’s Super League, the Women’s Super League 2 and Cymru Premier. These changes ensure that the designation of matches under the 1991 Act continues to apply to the relevant competitions under their current names.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. The Explanatory Memorandum is available at www.legislation.gov.uk; copies may be obtained from the Home Office at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.