Chief constable Roberts said proposals to change alcohol consumption laws at football - currently banned when in sight of the pitch unlike rugby and other sports - were "madness" and "irresponsible", given the increases in disorder. However, Pearson believes those laws need a "re-think".

He added: "Alcohol has always been a problem in terms of football attendance and, unfortunately, the อาร์เซนอล legislation introduced in the 1980s hasn't been effective at reducing alcohol consumption and has in fact created issues such as crushing at concourses, late entry at the turnstiles and those are many of the flashpoints where the incidents of disorder this season have been taking place."