Topping the list is Newcastle. Their closest rival is Tottenham Hotspur with 12,217 fouls
Figures show that delinquent behavior and incidents of violence are on the rise around Premier League grounds. Assaults, robberies, burglaries and drug-related offenses peak on match days in the streets around the top 20 stadiums, the Mirror reports.
Police are asking teams and clubs to work with them to tackle what they say is a “significant increase in crime and disorder” in and around the stadium.
The analysis of government and police statistics shows more than 132,000 offenses and offending behavior on match days near Premier League club grounds between 2014 and 2021, which have been compiled into a “table of shame”, as the ‘Mirror’ writes.
At the top with 23,172 incidents, in the shadow of St James’ Park, is Newcastle. Their closest rival is Tottenham Hotspur with 12,217 offences, within a 500m radius of the three pitches they occupied during this time.
Some of the most shocking scenes came in 2013 when, after a 3-0 defeat by local rivals Sunderland, Newcastle fans went on a rampage. Bricks, stones and firecrackers were hurled at Sunderland fans. Bins were set on fire and a Newcastle fan injured a police horse, for which he was jailed for a year. Four police officers were also injured and 23 Newcastle fans were arrested.
In 2019, after a 3-2 defeat, Newcastle fans attacked Liverpool fans trying to board a coach outside St James’s. The violence inside the stadium carried over to the city after the game. A police assault with globes put an end to the chaos. Two Newcastle and five Liverpool fans were arrested.
In third place is Chelsea with 11,228 offences, Arsenal were fourth with 10,885, Everton fifth with 10,456 and Wolves with 7,832. Below the seven-year average of 6,609 offenses per stadium were champions Manchester City with 3,748, second-placed Liverpool with 6,577 and Manchester United with 2,858.
Gonçalo Costa, of Odds-Comparison.com who did the research, said: “The sheer number of people flooding the area around football grounds on match days causes the crime rate to rise dramatically. Despite the heavy police presence in and around the stadiums, there is a significant problem».
The list
- Newcastle 23,172
- Tottenham 12,217
- Chelsea 11,228
- Arsenal 10,885
- Everton 10,456
- Wolves 7,832
- Southampton 7,244
- Brentford 7,083
- Liverpool 6,577
- Crystal Palace 5,612
- Leeds United 4,783
- West Ham Utd 4,628
- Aston Villa 4,305
- Man City 3,748
- Manchester United 2,858
- Fulham 2,437
- Nott’m Forest 2,414
- Leicester City 2,268
- Bournemouth 1,506
- Brighton 944
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