Football violence drops

Football is becoming more family friendly, as the number of fans arrested during the 2008-09 season has dropped.

The ‘Statistics on Football-Related Arrests and Banning Orders Season 2008-09’, showed a total of 3,752 arrests last season, down two per cent on the previous season’s figures.

At Bristol City Football Club, there was a total of 66 arrests, including seven for violent disorder and one for racist chanting.

Cardiff City topped the arrests chart with a total of 89 being made.

Charlton Athletic notched up just four.

Policing Minister David Hanson MP though pleased with the results does not believe in complacency.

He said: “Hooligans once blighted our national game, but we now set an example for the rest of the world in how we police football matches.

“I am pleased with the way clubs and police work together, but we must also praise fans for realising violence has no place in the modern game.