UK Bans 150 Chelsea, Man City Fans from FIFA Club World Cup

The British interior ministry has announced that approximately 150 supporters of Chelsea and Manchester City with previous violent conduct will be prohibited from traveling to the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. These fans, already subject to football banning orders, must surrender their passports to the police from June 9 to July 13 to prevent soccer-related disorder during the tournament. Policing Minister Diana Johnson emphasized that the measures aim to ensure that genuine fans can enjoy the event safely while deterring the minority of troublemakers. Failure to comply with the order could lead to unlimited fines or a six-month prison sentence. The government noted that, historically, compliance with similar measures has been high, with 99% of banned fans cooperating during the Euro 2024 tournament. In total, there are currently 2,172 football banning orders in effect in England and Wales.