UK Home Secretary Priti Patel Sunday announced that she is bringing forward legislation that would ban people from attending football (soccer) games for ten years if they are found guilty of online racism related to football. Through this legislation, “Football Banning Orders” (FBOs), currently imposed on people convicted of violence, disorder, and homophobic or racist chanting, would also be expanded to cover those who post racist abuse online.

Patel said of the new legislation:

Racism is unacceptable and for too long football has been marred by this shameful prejudice. Those responsible for racist abuse online must be punished. The changes to the law I am announcing will make sure they are banned from attending football matches.

This decision comes in the wake of the Euro Cup 2020 final match when some of the black players from the England team were subjected to racist abuses following their team’s defeat in the match. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had condemned the incident at that time and pledged to take firm action against online racist abusers. However, Patel was criticized after saying that players taking the knee against racist abuse is a “gesture (of) politics.”

Patel is expected to introduce an amendment early next year to the “Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill” through parliament.

Individuals convicted under FBOs are banned from attending regulated football matches for between 3 and 10 years. These orders can be issued if a complaint is made by the local police force, British Transport Police, or the Crown Prosecution Service or if a conviction has been made for a football-related offense. Currently, more than 1300 such orders are in force across England and Wales. Breaching an FBO is a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment of a maximum of 6 months or an unlimited fine, or both. An additional order may also be imposed in case of a breach.