Latest news with #Euro2028
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Fines and match bans for stadium tailgating to become law by Euro 2028
Football fans who try to enter stadiums without tickets are set to face fines and match bans in time for the Euro 2028 tournament, MPs have heard. Linsey Farnsworth's Unauthorised Entry To Football Matches Bill cleared the Commons on Friday, four years to the day after disorder at Wembley Stadium when Italy beat England 3-2 on penalties in the 2020 Uefa European Championship final held in 2021. 'The important thing is that we can get this legislation in place in time for when we co-host the next European finals, which is 2028, and I think we should be in good time for that,' the Labour MP for Amber Valley said. Ms Farnsworth's private member's bill would add unauthorised entry at matches to a list of football offences and mean spectators who tailgate through a turnstile behind a legitimate ticket-holder or force their way into stadiums without their own ticket will be fined up to £1,000 or given a banning order. 'Unauthorised entry often takes the form of tailgating, as we've heard – also called jibbing – where a ticketless person pushes through the turnstiles behind an unsuspecting ticket-holding fan,' Ms Farnsworth told the Commons. 'Currently, if caught, tailgaters will likely be ejected without facing any other consequences. 'Therefore, ticketless individuals can and do repeatedly attempt to gain entry to a match until they give up or are indeed successful. 'This is not a trivial matter: it has significant consequences for fans in the stadium, and the stewards and security staff working there.' Ms Farnsworth, who is an Everton supporter, added that where 'mass entry' takes place, its consequences can be 'dangerous and tragic'. The Bill responds to an independent review of the Uefa European Championship final held at Wembley in north London on July 11 2021. Baroness Casey of Blackstock found 'a minority of England supporters turned what should have been a day of national pride into a day of shame'. Where tailgating fans were ejected, they 'could not be arrested due to the number involved and practical considerations', according to the reviewer, and they were 'effectively 'recycled' onto the concourse, free to try again at a different set of turnstiles'. Around 100,000 people travelled to Wembley for the final 'of which approximately 2,000 gained entry to the stadium without tickets', with 17 mass breaches of the gates in the 90 minutes before kick-off until the penalty shootout. Conservative former minister Sir Christopher Chope tried to amend Ms Farnsworth's Bill so that it would only criminalise entering, not 'attempts to enter', football premises without a ticket. Put to a vote, in which he acted as a teller with Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, his bid failed by 47 votes to zero. 'It seems to me that such attempts are less important than the actual unlawful entry, and that to include them in the same category is disproportionate and unreasonable,' Sir Christopher said. Sir Edward, who is also a Tory former minister, suggested that 'children or young people sneaking in without harmful intent' could face criminal records and asked: 'Are we really going to do that?' Referring to MPs' concerns that someone who had bought a counterfeit ticket might face prosecution, Ms Farnsworth referred to a part of her Bill which would create a defence for fans who have 'something that they reasonably believed was a match ticket for the match'. The Bill received support from the Conservative Party, Weald of Kent MP Katie Lam affirmed at the despatch box. Security minister Dan Jarvis described unauthorised entry as a 'recurring problem' and added: 'Such behaviour is not only selfish and dishonest, but it's also fundamentally dangerous. 'It places enormous strain on stadium security, creates serious risks to public safety and undermines the experience of law-abiding fans. 'The Government is clear, this cannot and will not be allowed to continue, and that is why we are supporting this Bill. 'Forced entry, tailgating and so-called 'jibbing' are not victimless acts. Those involved are often aggressive, violent or threatening, and their actions can lead to overcrowding, blocked emergency exits and frightening conditions for innocent fans.' MPs called 'aye' to support Ms Farnsworth's Bill at third reading, which will undergo further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date. The Euro 2028 tournament is set to take place throughout the UK and Ireland.
Belfast Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Irish FA's big spend on failed bid to bring Euro 2028 football to Belfast revealed
The Irish FA spent £250,000 on their failed bid to bring Euro 2028 football to Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Euro 2028 gets big cash boost from government
The government has announced a £900m investment in British sport for the four-year period from 2025/26 to 2028/29. The funding package includes £500m dedicated to hosting major global sporting events and £400m for developing grassroots sports facilities. Notable events slated for government backing are the 2027 Tour de France, Euro 2028, and the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. The investment aims to stimulate economic growth, with Euro 2028 alone anticipated to generate a £2.5bn economic boost across the UK. The grassroots funding will support local sports clubs in building and improving facilities, fostering community participation and developing future athletes.
Business Recorder
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Euro 2028 among events to benefit as UK govt pledges $1.2 billion investment in sport
The UK government has pledged to spend more than 900 million pounds ($1.21 billion) to improve grassroots sporting infrastructure and support major events in the country such as Euro 2028, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. More than 500 million pounds would be used to support the delivery of world-class events, including next year's European athletics championships and the start of the men's and women's races of the Tour de France in 2027. 'This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country, delivering on our Plan for Change,' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in a statement on Thursday. Messi guides Inter Miami to historic victory over Porto at Club World Cup Affirming a commitment made by Nandy's predecessor Lucy Frazer in 2023, the government will also invest at least 400 million pounds in communities around the country to build new or upgrade existing grassroots sports facilities.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Euro 2028 among events to benefit as UK govt pledges $1.2 billion investment in sport
THE UK government has pledged to spend more than 900 million pounds ($1.21 billion) to improve grassroots sporting infrastructure and support major events in the country such as Euro 2028, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. More than 500 million pounds would be used to support the delivery of world-class events, including next year's European athletics championships and the start of the men's and women's races of the Tour de France in 2027. 'This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country, delivering on our Plan for Change,' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in a statement on Thursday. Affirming a commitment made by Nandy's predecessor Lucy Frazer in 2023, the government will also invest at least 400 million pounds in communities around the country to build new or upgrade existing grassroots sports facilities.
