The Football Spectators (2025 FIFA Club World Cup Control Period) Order 2025
The Football Spectators (2025 FIFA Club World Cup Control Period) Order 2025 establishes a control period from June 9th to July 13th, 2025, under the Football Spectators Act 1989, for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. This enables the use of summary measures to detain and refer individuals to court for banning orders, passport surrender requirements, and specific bail conditions.
The order applies to England and Wales.
Arguments For
Enhanced Public Safety: The order allows for proactive measures to prevent and deter disruptive behavior by football spectators during a major international tournament, thereby enhancing public safety.
Effective Enforcement: The specified control period empowers law enforcement to utilize existing powers under the Football Spectators Act 1989, such as detention and banning orders, to address potential threats to public order.
International Event Management: Aligning with international best practices for managing large-scale sporting events by having a defined control period supports smooth tournament operations and contributes to a positive event experience.
Legal Precedent: The order relies on the established legal framework of the Football Spectators Act 1989, providing a clear and transparent basis for its actions and reducing potential legal challenges.
Arguments Against
Potential for Abuse of Power: The extended powers could lead to disproportionate responses or infringements on civil liberties if not implemented carefully and judiciously.
Disproportionate Impact: The measures might disproportionately affect individuals with no intention to cause disruption or violence for the sole purpose of attending the sporting event.
Resource Constraints: Effective implementation requires adequate resources from law enforcement and other agencies, which may be limited or stretched thin, particularly during other major events.
Lack of Transparency/Accessibility: The impact of the Order on individuals not directly involved with the specified events should be openly discussed, particularly concerning travel and movement restrictions.
- Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent (1) This Order may be cited as the Football Spectators (2025 FIFA Club World Cup Control Period) Order 2025 and comes into force on 2nd April 2025. (2) In this Order, “the Tournament” means the external tournament known as the 2025 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Club World Cup in the United States of America. (3) This Order extends to England and Wales.
This section details the Order's title, effective date, definition of "the Tournament" (the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA), and geographical scope, covering England and Wales.
- Control Period (1) In relation to the Tournament, the period described in paragraph (2) is the control period for the purposes of Part 2 of the Football Spectators Act 1989. (2) The period is the period beginning on 9th June 2025, being five 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 13th July 2025).
This section defines the "control period" as June 9th to July 13th, 2025, a period relating to the FIFA Club World Cup under Part 2 of the Football Spectators Act 1989.
The period starts five days before the first match and ends when the last match concludes or is cancelled.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order) This Order prescribes the control period under the Football Spectators Act 1989 (“the Act”) for the 2025 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Club World Cup in the United States of America. The control period begins on 9th June 2025, which is five 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 13th July 2025. 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.
The explanatory note summarizes the Order's purpose: to define the control period for the FIFA Club World Cup under the Football Spectators Act 1989.
This enables the use of various powers during this period, including detention, court referrals for banning orders, and passport surrender requirements.
The note also states that a full impact assessment was not deemed necessary.