Geoff Pearson
@Geoff_Pearson
Prof of Law at Manchester Uni. Researcher on Policing, Human Rights and Football Crowds. Dabbler in Sports Law. @N8PRP Academic Director. Also on BlueSky.
Denying fans access to toilets is extraordinary. Those there last night say riot police started stopping fans from going to loo around 85 mins. The game lasted 95 mins & then Utd fans were held back for an hour after final whistle. Imagine not letting people go to the toilet
I was at United’s win over Lille at Lens’ Stade Félix Bollaert in 2007 when the French riot police disgraced themselves with their barbaric treatment of United fans. Agree with quote in here that they don’t know how to police football matches. The 2022 CL final another case in pt
"Ultimately this is about offering supporters choice at the match and it’s great to see women’s football continue to lead the way." The alcohol-in-the-stands pilot in women's football is set to expand for 2025-26. thefsa.org.uk/news/womens-ga…
Six years after Bury were booted out of the EFL, five years after Macc Town went bust & four years after the Big Six joined a closed-shop European Super League, the Football Governance Bill, sorry, Act becomes law today. English football is now subject to independent regulation.
Great news for everyone involved with @N8PRP. Layla will do a fantastic job. My only hope is she's not so great that I become surplus to requirements!
N8 PRP is delighted to announce @drlaylaskinns has been appointed as Interim Academic Director. Layla will lead N8 PRP along with Policing Co-Director Ben Ewart @gmpolice for 12 months whilst @Geoff_Pearson is on research leave. n8prp.org.uk/2025/07/21/n8-…
Great news. A reminder - it was football supporter groups that won this, protesting at and meeting with the Premier League As a result, we’ve saved supporters thousands of pounds each over the past decade. Here’s the avg savings from 2016 its start (thanks to @sportingintel)
Premier League clubs today unanimously agreed to extend £30 cap on away ticket prices. Will be the 10th season the cap has been in place.
Travelling to Naples next month for a conference and want to do some of the sights. Anyone know where the Scott McTominay shrine is?
Manchester is awarded Policing Academic Centre of Excellence status. Great for the city to see such a collaboration between @OfficialUoM and @ManMetUni manchester.ac.uk/about/news/man…
1/ If you are travelling to Bilbao for the final you can find the club’s Supporter Guide here: manutd.com/en/tickets-and… Some additional guidance follows on this thread. We may add further in the run up to the match
Unsurprising to see France at the bottom of this table.
Really interesting chart here on the number of people working in police oversight functions per 1,000 officers. UK (esp NI) and Ireland at the top. Via @sebastianjroche.
If any #MUFC fans who were in Lyon fancy a laugh, have a read of this.
#Sécurisation | Pour ce 1/4 de finale aller de l’Europa League entre l’Olympique Lyonnais 🇫🇷 et Manchester United 🏴, les #policiers du Rhône ont mis en place un important dispositif de sécurité afin que les supporters puissent assister à cette rencontre en toute sérénité #OLMUFC
#MUFC fans slam French riot police after being “tear gassed” after being denied access to toilets at Lyon game. FSE brand actions as “completely unacceptable”. Comes on top of “draconian” logistics. “Another example of treating football fans like cattle” telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/…
✈️ Did you follow your team away to a #UEL or #UECL match last night? 🗣️ How was the experience? You can have your say on everything from ticketing to stewarding by completing the 2024/25 FSE #AwayFanSurvey. ✍️ Complete the survey: buff.ly/XbS7njJ
Manchester United fans say a substance they believe to be ‘pepper spray’ was let off by police in the away end in Lyon last night. Piece here manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football…