Police warning that football banning orders still stand - even when matches are behind closed doors

After around three months away from the game due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some clubs are preparing to take to the pitch once more with teams in both the Premier League and Championship set to resume matches this week.

While games will be played behind closed doors, with fans ready to watch from home, offenders subject to football banning orders have been warned that any conditions of their sentences must still be obeyed during lockdown.

These sometimes include staying away from specific locations while matches are played.

Sergeant Adrian Dack, of Cleveland Police’s Football Intelligence Unit, said: “Everyone subject to a football banning order has a list of conditions that they must abide by. Some of these differ in terms of restriction zones and travel due to where the person may live and work.

“We would obviously urge anyone subject to a banning order to review their individual order and comply with their conditions.

“I would like to highlight that these conditions apply to both league fixtures and friendly games, and also when the games are played behind closed doors and no one is allowed inside the stadium.

“We will take a zero tolerance approach to anyone who does not comply with their banning order and they will face criminal action, this could also impact on the length of their current banning order.”

The Premier League season will resume on Wednesday, June 17, while the first Championship fixtures will be played on Saturday, June 20.

League One Clubs voted last week to formally end the 2019/20 season, with play-off games for promotion now due to take place in July.

Clubs in League Two and the National League also voted to end the 2019/20 campaign as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Teams in the National League are still waiting for further confirmation on play-offs, with a decision expected today (Tuesday, June 16).

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