Page:Football (Offences) Act 1991.pdf/2

2c. 19 :(b) any area in which spectators or other persons are or may be present, without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for him to prove).

3.—(1) It is an offence to take part at a designated football match in chanting of an indecent or racialist nature.

(2) For this purpose—
 * (a) “chanting” means the repeated uttering of any words or sounds in concert with one or more others; and
 * (b) “of a racialist nature” means consisting of or including matter which is threatening, abusive or insulting to a person by reason of his colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.

4. It is an offence for a person at a designated football match to go onto the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area to which spectators are not generally admitted, without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for him to prove).

5.—(1) In section 24(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (arrestable offences), after paragraph (d) insert—
 * “(e) any offence under the Football (Offences) Act 1991.”.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) In Schedule 1 to the Football Spectators Act 1989 (relevant offences for purposes of restriction orders, &c.), after paragraph (l) insert—
 * “(m) any offence under the Football (Offences) Act 1991.”.

6.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

(2) The provisions of this Act come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by order made by statutory instrument. and different days may be appointed for different provisions.

(3) This Act extends to England and Wales only. © Crown copyright 1991

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