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Last season saw an increasing number of pitch invasions at the
end of the season with fans celebrating titles, promotion or
survival.
Several altercations took place on the field, including one
involving Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, while Sheffield
United's Billy Sharp was attacked by a fan after a playoff
defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Smoke bombs and pyrotechnics, which have long been used at games
in continental Europe and elswhere in the world, used to be
relatively rare in England but their use has become a more
regular occurance.
The leagues and the Football Association said that from the
start of the new season "all identified offenders will be
reported by clubs to the police and prosecution could result in
a permanent criminal record, which may affect their employment
and education, and could result in a prison sentence."
"Furthermore, anyone who enters the pitch and those identified
carrying or using pyrotechnics or smoke bombs will now receive
an automatic club ban. These bans could also be extended to
accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in
these activities," the statement said.
The bodies said they were working with the police and the Crown
Prosecution Service to ensure prosecution "will become the
default response".
The leagues are also seeking to censor publication of videos
showing pitch invasions and smoke bombs by working with social
media companies to remove footage quickly while asking
government to reform regulations to restrict the supply of
pyrotechnics and smoke bombs.
FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham said: "The rise in
anti-social behaviour that we saw in stadiums at the end of last
season was entirely unacceptable and put people’s safety at
risk. Together, English football has introduced new measures and
stronger sanctions, for the start of the coming season, to send
out a clear message that we will not tolerate this type of
illegal and dangerous behaviour."
The move was backed by the Football Supporters Association
(FSA).
"We are contacted by supporters on a fairly regular basis who
have been caught jumping on the pitch, or with pyro in the
stands, and without exception they regret doing it," FSA head
Kevin Miles said.
"Whether they had positive intentions or not is irrelevant in
the eyes of the law - pyro and pitch incursions are illegal, you
will be prosecuted and you will be banned by your club."
(Reporting by Simon Evans, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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