MPs ask for 'immediate change' to football ban law to protect women's players



A man invaded the pitch last week to get a picture with a woman.

The law banning people from attending football matches does not cover women's games in the same way as men's league games, so it needs to be changed immediately.

Eight MPs have written to the parliamentary under-secretary for sport to raise the issue.

The Football (Offences) Order does not cover Women's Super League games according to The Athletic.

The MPs were shocked.

This is worrying given the growth of the professional women's game.

The Football (Offences) Order means fans who break the law can be arrested and subsequently issued with penalties that include being banned from attending matches.

The MPs wrote that they wanted the legislation to change so that professional women's football is listed as a designated match so that it brings parity of protection to female footballers.

The topic is under scrutiny after a man invaded the pitch at a women's match.

Sam Kerr was given a yellow card for barging the spectator to the floor after he ran onto the pitch to get a picture with the captain.

This is extraordinary! I will look to see how it can be changed now that I know about it. I think Kerr's yellow card should be revoked because she gets punished when the invader doesn't.

The growth of the game has shown that the players are more in demand.

It should serve as a reminder to us all that we have to put player protection first.

The fixture was not a designated match under the Football (Offences) Order and the Metropolitan Police could not investigate the incident.

The Home Office said that the Women's Champions League games should be open to investigation.

Football banning order legislation covers both women's and men's designated matches where there is a high risk of disorder, and matches in the Uefa Women's Champs League and women's international matches fall under its scope.

The matches are based on the history of incidents. Generic public order legislation applies to matches that are not designated, as well as other sporting events.