Football banning orders have been slapped on a record number of hooligans, Britain's Home Office said today, with Leeds United fans topping the list.
In the 2005/06 season there were 3,387 hooligans subject to the orders, which prevent known trouble-makers from attending domestic and international matches.
A total of 995 were imposed during the year, making a net total rise of seven per cent year-on-year after allowing for orders that have expired. Arrests for football-related offences dipped by seven per cent to 3,462 - the third consecutive season to see a fall.
"This decrease in arrests, coupled with the increase in banning orders, shows that banning orders do work," said Stephen Thomas, the Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesman on football issues.
Football Association Chief Executive Brian Barwick said the figures reflected an ongoing culture change among fans against bad behaviour. Leeds United had a total of 115 banning orders, including an extra 20 orders imposed on its fans during the year.
Portsmouth were second with 110, followed by Cardiff City with 109. Stoke City came next with 108 and Manchester United with 106 orders.
Stoke City also gained the largest number of orders in the year with 58.
The Premiership overtook the Championship for the largest number of arrests in the year. There were 1,221 at Premier League games, up from 984 in 2004/05, while Championship arrests fell from to 877 from 1,047.
The club with the highest number of arrests was Tottenham Hotspur, with 169. It was followed by Manchester United (147), Chelsea (126), Sheffield Wednesday (89), Coventry City (88) and Leeds United (76).
Since the orders were introduced after Euro 2000, 5,173 individuals have been banned. Of those, 1,776 orders have expired. Of the 5,173 total, just 69 individuals have subsequently been involved in football violence - which officials said was a 96 per cent rehabilitation rate.