Football clubs are being urged to contribute more to the cost of match policing to alleviate the burden on taxpayers. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the UK's football policing lead, stated that the current model, where clubs are not responsible for policing expenses outside stadiums, "simply cannot continue." Last season, taxpayers reportedly funded £70m for football match policing in England and Wales, marking the highest figure since data collection began in 2017-18.

Statistics reveal a rise in "high severity" incidents at matches last season, with 159 classified as such, up from 106 the previous year. However, Professor Geoff Pearson of the University of Manchester suggests this increase might be due to improved recording systems, noting a decrease in overall arrests and violent disorder. He commended UK police efforts, stating "football policing in this country is the envy of much of the world."

Despite an increase in reported offences, arrests have fallen in recent seasons. New legislation has criminalized unauthorized entry and possession of class A drugs at matches. While arrests of England fans at the 2026 World Cup increased compared to previous tournaments, UKFP noted more supporters attended the expanded event and praised fan behavior abroad. Domestically, the World Cup saw a significant number of incidents and arrests, with 93% occurring during England games, and domestic abuse accounting for 17% of all UK incidents.