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

Made: 15th July 2025

Laid before Parliament: 16th July 2025

Coming into force: 5th September 2025

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1(1) of the Football (Offences) Act 1991[^f00001].

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[^f00002]—

• (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”.

Signed

Diana Johnson — Minister of State — Home Office — 15th July 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

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.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1991 c. 19.

[^f00002]: S.I. 2004/2410, as amended by S.I. 2011/1187 and 2022/610.