Norwich City is supporting an all-football approach to ensure that every football fan feels safe attending matches.
Ahead of the new season, we’re backing the introduction of strong measures across football to tackle antisocial and criminal behaviours within football grounds.
This includes entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke bombs or pyros and throwing objects onto the pitch, as well as discriminatory behaviour and taking drugs.
All of these actions are illegal, dangerous and have no place in our game.
For everyone’s safety, all clubs will report anyone carrying out these offences to the police. Prosecution by the police can result in a permanent criminal record, which could affect your employment and education, and in some cases, result in a prison sentence.
Anyone who enters the pitch without permission or uses smoke bombs or pyros will now receive an automatic club ban.
This could also now apply to the parents or guardians of children involved in these activities.
These measures reflect the seriousness of the risks to fans and staff – pyros can burn at 2000 degrees Celsius and can cause life-changing injuries, burns and potentially fatal asthma attacks.
Entering the pitch endangers everyone because it’s impossible to tell the difference between a celebrating fan and a violent attacker. That is why the pitch must remain a safe space for players, and the stands for supporters.
This season, Norwich City is supporting the FA, Premier League, EFL, and the Football Supporters Association to make football a safer and more welcoming environment, by cracking down on dangerous behaviour that can put fans, players, staff and match officials at risk.
We ask our supporters to come together to show that those who commit these illegal acts do not represent the majority of supporters.
FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham said: "We all know about the fantastic and unique role that football can play in bringing communities together.
"However, the rise in anti-social behaviour that we saw in stadiums at the end of last season was entirely unacceptable and put people’s safety at risk.
"Together, English football has introduced new measures and stronger sanctions, for the start of the coming season, to send out a clear message that we will not tolerate this type of illegal and dangerous behaviour.
"Football stadiums must be a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for all, and it is the responsibility of everyone in the game, including governing bodies, clubs, players, coaches, and fans, to ensure that we all play our part in protecting our game and each other."
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “Everyone should feel safe and able to enjoy a football match.
"Together, with clubs and partners across football, we are making clear the type of incidents we saw last season must stop.
"If we don’t take collective and sustained action, it may only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or worse.
“These new measures are a strong response to a significant increase in fan behaviour issues, but we know it is the minority who have behaved unacceptably and unlawfully.
"Premier League football should be a fantastic experience for everyone and we don’t want matches to be marred by these sorts of events in the future.”
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: “This season sees new measures introduced and sanctions implemented that will serve to remind everyone attending games - but particularly the minority of people behaving in an offensive manner - that there are real life consequences for the criminal, dangerous and irresponsible conduct at football.
"It is wholly appropriate that these unacceptable behaviours will now be dealt with through a combination of police action and automatic club bans.
"There is nothing like going to watch your team live and that is why the English professional game has taken strong collective action, to ensure the match day experience remains a safe and welcoming environment for all including fans, players, club staff and match officials.”
Football Supporters' Association Chief Executive Kevin Miles said: "We are contacted by supporters on a fairly regular basis who have been caught jumping on the pitch, or with pyro in the stands, and without exception they regret doing it.
"Whether they had positive intentions or not is irrelevant in the eyes of the law - pyro and pitch incursions are illegal, you will be prosecuted and you will be banned by your club."