The comments made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the lack of arrests among England fans at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have sparked debate within the football community. While Infantino’s remarks were intended as a lighthearted quip, they have been criticised for oversimplifying a complex issue and reinforcing outdated stereotypes.
A deeper analysis of the statistics reveals a more nuanced picture of England fans’ conduct at major international tournaments over the past two decades. Contrary to Infantino’s claim, the absence of arrests among English supporters in Qatar was not an anomaly, but rather the culmination of a steady improvement in their behaviour at World Cups.
In fact, data shows that across six World Cup tournaments since 2002, there were only 55 arrests out of a total of 432,000 England fans in attendance, with the majority of offences being non-violent. This stands in stark contrast to the 429 arrests made at a single match between Germany and Poland during the 2006 World Cup.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the national lead for football policing, has emphasised that “for the record, ‘British’ fans behaving at World Cups is the norm, not something special.” This sentiment is echoed by football supporters’ groups, who have criticised Infantino’s comments as “cheap jokes” that fail to accurately reflect the progress made in addressing hooliganism within the England fan base.
The history of England’s international fan behaviour is a complex one, with the team’s supporters facing a long-standing reputation for violence and disorder, particularly at the turn of the century. The infamous scenes at Euro 2000, which saw 945 England fans arrested, led to the introduction of the Football (Disorder) Act 2000, which strengthened banning orders and enabled police to withhold passports.
Since then, the landscape has shifted significantly, with England fans’ conduct improving markedly at subsequent tournaments, especially those held in more distant locations. The 2010 and 2014 World Cups, hosted in South Africa and Brazil respectively, saw no arrests or violent incidents among the thousands of England supporters in attendance.
While there have been isolated incidents, such as the unrest at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium, it would be unfair to associate all England fans with these isolated events. The Football Association was fined and ordered to play one match behind closed doors as punishment for the disorder, highlighting the authorities’ commitment to addressing such issues.
As the football world turns its attention to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the focus will undoubtedly be on maintaining the positive progress made by England fans in recent years. With continued efforts to promote responsible supporter behaviour and effective policing strategies, the hope is that the reputation of England’s fan base will continue to improve on the global stage.
