Spectator behaviour at sporting events

What an offence is

There are several activities which are deemed to be offences at sporting events:

• throwing an article capable of causing injury - can attract a fine of up to £1,000
• indecent or sectarian chanting - can attract a fine of up to £1,000
• going onto the playing area - can attract a fine of up to £1,000
• possessing fireworks or flares at a match - can attract a fine of up to £1,000 and/ or a prison sentence of up to three months
• possessing alcohol on private hire vehicles on the way to sporting events  - can attract a fine of up to £1,000 and/ or a prison sentence of up to three months and the private vehicle operator can also be fined up to £2,500 for permitting alcohol onto the vehicle

Events and venues

The offences apply to the following sporting events and venues:

• association football international matches
• Irish Football Association (IFA) Premiership and Championship matches
• Football Association of Ireland (FAI) Premier League and First Division matches played in Northern Ireland
• Gaelic games matches played at county grounds and some secondary grounds
• rugby matches played at the Kingspan Stadium

More useful links

• Sport and leisure
• Football banning orders
• Reporting a crime
• Police Service of Northern Ireland