Latics shamed by fans’ behaviour

OLDHAM Athletic fans are continuing to shame the club by being arrested or banned from games..

Figures released by the Home Office show 18 arrests between August last year and May this year.

Five were at home games at Boundary Park and 13 at away fixtures.

Nine supporters were arrested for public disorder, seven for alcohol offences, one for pitch incursion, and one for violent disorder.

Seventeen were arrested in the 2006/07 season.

Figures also show 10 banning orders are in place on club fans — with five handed out last season.

Violence and disorder do not necessarily have to be football-related to lead to a ban — which can last between two and 10 years — and can involve behaviour that is not a crime.

That can include stirring up racial hatred, using threatening or abusive words and “displaying abusive or insulting writing” — which could include a tattoo.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said: “Football violence and disorder has no place in the modern game and we are determined to crack down on those who attempt to ruin the sport for the vast majority of genuine fans.

“Football banning orders have proved to be a great success — 94 per cent of those whose banning order has expired have been assessed by police as no longer posing a risk of football disorder.”

Manchester United fans are still among the worst in the country with 78 banning orders — 29 last season alone. In addition, 248 fans were arrested: 65 at Old Trafford and 183 at away clashes

Manchester City supporters did better with 50 banning orders, 20 given last season, and 101 arrests.

Rochdale has eight banning orders, six given last season and 24 arrests.

Nationally, there were 3,842 arrests last season at all international and domestic games, with no arrests made at 67 per cent of matches.

Across the country 3,172 banning orders are currently in place, with 1,048 handed out last season.

Mr Coaker added: “Great progress has been achieved and we remain committed to preventing violence and criminality spoiling the sport. However we are not complacent and continue to work very closely with police, football authorities and supporter groups to co-ordinate a sophisticated multi agency strategy to manage football disorder.”