First fan in English football history charged with tailgating following League Cup final

Martin Macdonald

• 23 Mar 2026 08:30 CDT
• 2 min read

News

A supporter has received a criminal charge for tailgating for the first time in English football history.

'Tailgating' is performed by standing close behind someone who has a legitimate match ticket and going through the turnstile in one transaction.

Up until this past weekend at the League Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City, football fans without a ticket were simply ejected from the stadium, if caught, but now they will be prosecuted. The authorities believe the threat of criminal charges will act as a deterrent to stop people from attempting to illegally access stadiums.

It didn't for one fan at that game, though, who has been prosecuted.

Benjamin Bailey, 27, of Oldham, Manchester, will appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court on Friday, 1 May in connection with the alleged offence.

Two other men have been arrested for the offence but are yet to be charged.

A separate incident also took place in Tottenham's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday on which a Spurs fan was arrested for tailgating.

Should a fan be found guilty, they face a five-year football banning order as well as a fine of £1,000.

For the 2025 League Cup final between Newcastle and Liverpool, which the former won 2-1, 69 arrests were made at Wembley and the majority of offences were for people trying to get into the match without a ticket.

News laws a deterrent

Prior to the League Cup final, two officials promised punishment for those attempting to enter games without at ticket.

"Football fans should be able to enjoy the game without feeling unsafe or threatened," said policing minister Sarah Jones.

"We're giving the police the tools they need to ensure the chaos we saw at Wembley five years ago never happens again.

"Anyone who endangers others by forcing their way into stadiums faces serious consequences."

Mark Lynch, Stadium Director at Wembley, said: "Attempts to tailgate or force entry into football stadiums places a huge strain on crowd safety teams and puts legitimate ticket holders at risk of overcrowding or injury.

"This new legislation will make football safer for fans with genuine tickets, and we are pleased that it will come into effect ahead of a busy period of football matches at Wembley Stadium."

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