Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 Commencement

UK New Legislation

Published March 12th, 2026

Detected March 16th, 2026

Summary

The UK Secretary of State has issued regulations to bring the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 into force on March 22, 2026. This Act introduces a new offence for unauthorised entry into designated football matches.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026, made on March 12, 2026, bring the entirety of the Act into force on March 22, 2026. The Act establishes a new offence of unauthorised entry into designated football matches by adding a new section to the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

Regulated entities, specifically football clubs and event organizers, should ensure their security and ticketing protocols are aligned with the new offence which becomes effective on March 22, 2026. While no specific impact assessment was produced, compliance with this new criminal offence is mandatory.

What to do next

Ensure compliance with the new offence of unauthorised entry to football matches effective March 22, 2026.
Review and update relevant security and ticketing policies and procedures.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 288 (C. 22)

SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026

Made

12th March 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the power conferred by section 2(2) of the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026(1).

Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 (Commencement) Regulations 2026.

Commencement of the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026

The Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 comes into force on 22nd March 2026.

Sarah Jones

Minister of State

12th March 2026

Home Office

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 (c. 1) (“ the Act ”) into force on 22 March 2026.

Regulation 2 brings into force the entirety of the Act, which adds a new section 1A to the Football (Offences) Act 1991 (c. 19), introducing a new offence of unauthorised entry into a designated football match.

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.

(1) 2026 c. 1.