The Football Spectators (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Football Spectators (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2025, effective September 5th, 2025, updates the 2022 Order which prescribes football matches and organizations under the Football Spectators Act 1989.
It corrects names of competitions (National League, Women’s Super League, Women’s Super League 2, Cymru Premier) and organizations, including the addition of Women’s Super League Football Limited.
This ensures that regulations remain current and accurately reflect the current football landscape in England and Wales.
Arguments For
Maintaining Accuracy of Prescribed Football Matches and Organizations: The amendment ensures that the list of regulated football matches and organizations under the Football Spectators Act 1989 remains current and accurate, reflecting recent changes in league names and structures.
Effective Enforcement of Football Banning Orders: By keeping the list up-to-date, the Order helps ensure the effective enforcement of football banning orders and other restrictions related to prescribed matches and organizations.
Legal Compliance: The changes maintain compliance with the Football Spectators Act 1989, avoiding potential legal challenges due to outdated information.
Streamlined Administration: Updating the list simplifies administrative tasks related to managing football spectators, providing clarity and consistency in regulations.
Arguments Against
Minimal Impact Assessed: The Explanatory Note mentions that no significant impact on the private, voluntary, or public sector was foreseen. This might limit the opportunities to assess any unintended consequences of the Order.
Potential for Unforeseen Amendments: While seemingly straightforward, future changes to league structures or naming conventions may require further amendments, leading to an ongoing need for updates.
Resource Allocation: While the impact assessment deemed to be negligible, some resources may need to be allocated to disseminate the changes, update internal systems, and for staff training.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) This Order may be cited as the Football Spectators (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2025 and comes into force on 5th September 2025. (2) This Order extends to England and Wales.
This section details the Order's official title, effective date (September 5th, 2025), and its geographical scope (England and Wales).
It provides the legal citation and clarifies when and where the changes come into effect.
- Amendment to the Football Spectators (Prescription) Order 2022 The Football Spectators (Prescription) Order 2022 is amended in accordance with articles 3 and 4.
This section states that the Order amends the existing Football Spectators (Prescription) Order 2022, with the specific changes detailed in articles 3 and 4.
- Amendments to article 3: regulated football match Article 3 (regulated football match) is amended as follows— (a) in paragraph (2)(a)(iii) omit “Football Association”; (b) in paragraph (2)(a)(iv) for “Football Association Women’s Championship” substitute “Women’s Super League 2”; (c) in paragraph (2)(a)(v) for “the Football Conference” substitute “the National League”; (d) in paragraph (2)(a)(vi) omit “League”; (e) in paragraph (4)(b)(iii) omit “Football Association”; (f) in paragraph (4)(b)(iv) for “Football Association Women’s Championship” substitute “Women’s Super League 2”; (g) in paragraph (4)(b)(v) for “the Football Conference” substitute “the National League”; (h) in paragraph (4)(b)(vi) omit “League”.
This article specifies changes to Article 3 of the 2022 Order, which defines 'regulated football match'.
Several instances of "Football Association" are removed, and references to the "Football Association Women’s Championship" and "Football Conference" are updated to "Women’s Super League 2" and "National League", respectively.
These are all name changes to keep the definitions up to date.
- Amendments to article 4: regulated football organisation Article 4 (regulated football organisation) is amended as follows— (a) after paragraph (e) insert— “(ea) the Women’s Super League Football Limited”; (b) in paragraph (f)(iii) omit “Football Association”; (c) in paragraph (f)(iv) for “Football Association Women’s Championship” substitute “Women’s Super League 2”; (d) in paragraph (f)(v) for “Football Conference” substitute “National League”; (e) in paragraph (f)(vi) omit “League”.
This article outlines amendments to Article 4 of the 2022 Order, concerning 'regulated football organisations'.
It adds "Women’s Super League Football Limited" to the list.
Similar to Article 3, this section updates organisation names to reflect current usage, removing instances of "Football Association" and updating references to the "Football Association Women’s Championship" and "Football Conference" to "Women’s Super League 2" and "National League", respectively.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order) This Order amends the Football Spectators (Prescription) Order 2022 (“the 2022 Order”), which prescribes football matches and competitions for the purposes of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (“the 1989 Act”). Under the 1989 Act, certain restrictions and requirements may be imposed on individuals in relation to prescribed football matches, including the imposition of football banning orders. This Order updates the 2022 Order to reflect the current names of the following football competitions and organisations: the National League, the Women’s Super League, the Women’s Super League 2 and Cymru Premier. It also adds a new entity, “the Women’s Super League Football Limited”, to the list of prescribed organisations. These amendments ensure that the prescription of matches competitions and organisations under the 1989 Act remains accurate and up to date with current league structures and naming conventions. 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.
The Explanatory Note clarifies the purpose of the Order, which is to bring the 2022 Order into line with current football league names and structures.
It explains that the amendment facilitates the continued and accurate application of restrictions under the 1989 Act, and that a full impact assessment was not deemed necessary due to a lack of anticipated significant effects.