Football banning orders: three Manchester clubs among those with the most fans banned in 2020-1

New figures released today have shone a light on the number of fans who have been given a football banning order – despite Covid restrictions limiting fan interaction last season.

Birmingham City had the most recorded new fans banned from its football matches in the 2020/21 season in England and Wales, the Home Office statistics show, with 27 orders. They were followed by Liverpool with 17 fans banned.

Clubs in Greater Manchester then make up the next three places.

Bolton Wanderers had the third most bans last season, with 17 orders made.

Stockport County came in at fourth with 16 orders made against supporters.

And Manchester City were in fifth place, with nine orders made last season.

Manchester United were well down the rankings, in joint 22nd place with two orders.

The total across all English and Welsh clubs was 208.

Banning Orders are a measure imposed by a court following a football-related offence.

It aims to prevent violence or disorder at, or in connection, with regulated football matches.

Banning orders can last for up to 10 years if immediate imprisonment is imposed and must be for at least six years.

The 2020/21 season started on 12 September, following a mere seven-week break after the 2019/20 season, which was disrupted by the pandemic.

Many fixtures last season saw no fans in attendance. Fans were only allowed to return to watch live sport in England without any restrictions from 19 July 2021, after social distancing rules were scrapped.

The Premier League has now returned to full stadium capacity when it kicked off on 13 August for the 2021/22 season.

* A version of this story originally appeared on our sister site NationalWorld.