First person charged with tailgating after Carabao Cup final

A 27-year-old man has become the first person in Britain to be charged with ‘tailgating’ after Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

According to the Metropolitan Police, Benjamin Bailey from Oldham will appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on May 1 after being charged with tailgating. 

Two other men were reportedly arrested on suspicion of the same offence at Wembley and remain in custody. 

There were previously no specific legal penalties for entering a football stadium without a ticket, which was an issue for the Football Association (FA).

Offenders were only ejected from the ground without further punishment. 

The FA actively engaged to make tailgating a criminal offence after the serious disorder that marred the 2021 European Championship final between England and Italy. 

About 2,000 fans tried to enter the stadium without tickets, and an independent review found that a ticketless group of 6,000 people were preparing to storm the stadium if the Three Lions won. 

A similar incident occurred during last year’s Carabao Cup final between Newcastle United and Liverpool, as supporters attempted to gain entry without tickets. 

The police arrested 68 offenders on suspicion of fraud. No charges were issued due to low conviction rates for tailgating. 

The introduction of the new legislation means that offenders could be given a football ban for up to five years and a fine of up to £1,000.