The Football Spectators (2024 UEFA European Championship Control Period) Order 2024

Statutory Instruments

2024 No. 272

SPORTS GROUNDS AND SPORTING EVENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Football Spectators (2024 UEFA European Championship Control Period) Order 2024

Made

29th February 2024

Laid before Parliament

4th March 2024

Coming into force

26th March 2024

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 14(6) and 22A(2) of the Football Spectators Act 1989(1).

The Secretary of State considers that the provision made by article 2 of this Order is expedient in order to secure the effective enforcement of Part 2 of that Act.

Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent

1.—( 1) This Order may be cited as the Football Spectators (2024 UEFA European Championship Control Period) Order 2024 and comes into force on 26th March 2024.

(2) In this Order —

“the 1989 Act” means the Football Spectators Act 1989;

“the Tournament” means the external tournament(2) known as the 2024 Union of European Football Associations “UEFA”(3) European Football Championship in Germany.

(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

Beginning of control period

2.  Section 14(6) of the 1989 Act (main definitions: control period in relation to an external tournament) has effect in relation to the Tournament as if, for the reference to five days, there were substituted a reference to ten days.

Control Period

3.—(1) In relation to the Tournament, the period described in paragraph (2) is the control period for the purposes of Part 2 of the 1989 Act.

(2) The period is the period beginning on 4th June 2024, being ten days before the day of the first football match which is included in the Tournament, and ending when the last football match included in the Tournament is finished or cancelled (which, subject to scheduling amendment, is due to be 14th July 2024).

Chris Philp

Minister of State

Home Office

29th February 2024

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order prescribes the control period under the Football Spectators Act 1989 (c. 37) (“the Act”) for the 2024 UEFA European Championship in Germany. The control period begins on 4th June 2024, which is ten days before the first match in the tournament, and ends when the last match in the tournament is finished or cancelled. The last match is due to be played on 14th July 2024.

During the control period, powers under sections 21A and 21B of the Act (summary measures to detain and refer to a court with a view to making a banning order) are exercisable. Individuals subject to a banning order may be required to surrender their passports during a control period under section 19 of the Act. In addition, bail conditions can be imposed on individuals requiring them to surrender their passports during a control period under section 14A (banning orders made on conviction of an offence) and section 14B (banning orders made on a complaint) of the Act.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.

(1)

1989 c. 37. Section 14 was substituted by paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 to the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 (c. 25) (“the 2000 Act”) inserted by section 1(1) and 1(2) of the 2000 Act and amended by section 103(1) and (2)(a) of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26). There are other amendments not relevant to this Order. Section 22A was inserted by paragraphs 9 and 18 of Schedule 2 to the 2000 Act. There are amendments to section 22A that are not relevant to this Order.

(2)

“External Tournament” is defined in section 14(3) of the 1989 Act (section 14(3) was amended by section 103(1) and (2)(a) of the Policing and Crime Act 2009).

(3)

The initials “UEFA” refer to the Union of European Football Associations of Route de Genève 46, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland which is an organisation entered in the register of companies under the Swiss civil code with registered number CH 550-1017474-1.