A man has become the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of tailgating at a football match, receiving a three-year banning order and a fine. Benjamin Bailey, 27, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, admitted entering the Carabao Cup final at Wembley without a ticket on 22 March.
Tailgating involves fans gaining entry to turnstiles by walking closely behind paying ticket holders. The offence was created under the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act, introduced ahead of the final to close a legal loophole. Offenders can face banning orders of up to five years and fines reaching £1,000.
The legislation followed serious disorder during the Euro 2020 final at Wembley in July 2021, when around 2,000 ticketless fans breached security, with 17 mass gate break-ins. An independent review by Baroness Louise Casey identified more than 20 “near misses” that could have caused serious injury or death.
Bailey pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Friday. The court imposed a three-year football banning order and a £230 fine. The new law also makes it an offence to use forged tickets, passes, or accreditation, or to impersonate stadium or playing staff to gain entry to matches.
