Arsenal Football Club has taken a firm stance against abusive and discriminatory behavior, banning 24 supporters for incidents both at the Emirates Stadium and online during last season. These incidents included racism and assault, among other offenses.
Out of the 24 fans, 14 have received three-year bans from attending both home and away matches, while the other 10 are banned for one year. Most of these incidents occurred at the Emirates Stadium, with three fans found guilty of online abuse.
Richard Garlick, Arsenal's managing director, emphasized the club's commitment to addressing abuse and discrimination. He stated that the club will continue to work closely with partners like the Metropolitan Police to take strong action against those responsible for such behavior.
The reported offenses at the Emirates Stadium include 10 cases of assault, five of tragedy chanting, two of offensive gestures, two of racism, one of homophobia, and one of sexual assault. Online, there were cases of racism, antisemitism, and sending abusive messages.
Garlick reinforced that despite the fact that only a small minority of fans engage in this behavior, Arsenal will not hesitate to act against those identified as season ticket holders or members, and will escalate matters to the police when necessary.
"Our goal is to create a welcoming environment for everyone at Arsenal," Garlick said, expressing hope that these actions will deter others from using abusive, threatening, or discriminatory language. He also highlighted that education is a key element in addressing this issue.
