The resurgence of ‘The British Disease’: How COVID-19 has impacted football-related crime.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Lincoln for the degree of MA by Research. Previous research has investigated the underlying factors contributing to football-related crime (FRC) in an effort to understand why this crime occurs. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the occurrence of such crimes in England and Wales was declining. However, the pandemic changed the dynamic of football-related crime with the Euro 2020 final alone accounting for nearly an entire season’s worth of reported incidents, highlighting the necessity of continued academic research within this area. This study showed a temporary decline in FRC during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons during the pandemic, attributed to restrictions on supporter attendance. However, the subsequent reintroduction of fans corresponded to a 59.16% increase in football-related arrests (FRA) from pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a notable deviation from historical patterns and indicating a shift in fan behaviour. The research demonstrated that levels of FRC and FRA increased beyond pre-pandemic and expected rates found from regression analysis across England and Wales. Shifts in FRC categories reinforced further investigation. From a regional perspective, this research has highlighted that the regional disparities that were common before COVID-19, have slightly reduced probably due to a convergence of fan behaviours. Across leagues, this thesis also draws attention to disproportionate increase in arrests in the Premier League compared to lower leagues. The stereotypical demographic of a football fan, young working-class White British males, has been proven to be particularly affected by the psychological and social implications of COVID-19. Multiple linear regression analysis also displayed that after the pandemic, regions with higher percentages of White British populations were associated with higher rates of violent disorder. Key findings from this study support the idea that FRC both mirrors and exacerbates social unrest when it is apparent in the wider society. While acknowledging the limitations of this research study, it does contribute to literature having analysed data trends alongside established frameworks and the Subcultural Theory. Three major recommendations are developed from this thesis, improved data collection, review of legislation and localised interventions that reflect issues within specific footballing communities. The study concludes by recognising the lasting and multifaceted impact the pandemic has had on FRC in England and Wales. FRC may only represent a minority of all crime in England and Wales, but remains a significant issue if left untreated. FRC warrants sustained attention by addressing the root causes of this specific crime through community engagement, policy changes and further research, otherwise this study suspects FRC levels will continue to increase.