Pitch invaders in the Premier League will be subject to bans, jail time and more

Fans entering the pitch or using objects such as flares and other pyrotechnics at soccer matches in England would be immediately banned by clubs under new measures aimed at curbing disorder. The issue of security inside stadiums raised alarm after a series of incidents in the final stretch of last season in the Premier League and other competitions.

In one incident, Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira kicked an Everton fan who taunted him during a pitch invasion at Goodison Park. In addition, Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp was head-butted by a Nottingham Forest fan at the end of the Second Division playoff. The Forest fan was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail.

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"The increase in anti-social behavior we witnessed in stadiums at the end of the season is totally unacceptable and puts the safety of the attending public at risk," said Mark Bullingham, the chief executive of the English Football Association.

"Together, English football passed new measures and tougher sanctions to send a clear message that we will not tolerate this type of illegal and dangerous behavior," he added. The FA did not specify how extensive the bans will be.

The Football Supporters' Association backed the new measures, which will come into effect from the start of the 2022-23 season. The bans could extend to relatives or chaperones of children involved in pitch invasions, the FA said.

Further new measures for Premier League fans

Other measures to be implemented include more thorough searches of individuals as they enter stadiums, having more sniffer dogs and working with social media platforms to immediately remove videos of misconduct.