In the UK, football fans caught with cocaine will be banned from attending matches for five years, under new government plans.
Cocaine-fuelled football hooligans to be given five-year match ban, the government announces
In changes expected to be rolled out during the next football season, those convicted of supplying or being in possession of class A drugs could also be forced to surrender their passports when their team is playing abroad.
“That’s why we are stepping up our efforts to make sure those who break the law face the full consequences – because taking illegal drugs is never a victimless crime.”
The government said it hoped the new measures would prevent disorder such as that seen at the Euro Final between England and Italy last July, with Mr Malthouse adding: “The football family wants every ground to be a safe space for fans, especially children, and so do we.”
The National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) football lead Mark Roberts said he was “pleased” that banning orders would be extended “to counter the growing issues of disorder we have seen, in part driven by the use of Class A drugs”.
“Policing and football authorities all support this measure and it is an important step in ensuring that the use of drugs at football is tackled so the majority of fans, particularly those with families, can enjoy themselves without suffering anti-social behaviour and violence,” Mr Roberts said.
The UK Football Policing Unit, which deals with all football banning orders, “will be coordinating activity with police forces and clubs from the start of next season to ensure that we make the best use of this legislation to target the use of drugs at football”, he added.
