The number of Oldham Athletic supporters arrested last season was the highest number of any of the previous eight seasons.

Figures shared by the Home Office show 15 Latics supporters were arrested at football games during the 2022-23 season, which was up from 12 the season before and is the highest number since records began in the 2014-15 season.

Across England and Wales, the number of arrests at football games reached a nine-year high.

Latics supporters were arrested for a range of offences, including:

  • Alcohol offences - one
  • Violent disorder - eight
  • Public disorder - one
  • Racist/indecent chanting -  one
  • Pitch incursion - one
  • Breach of banning order - one
  • Criminal damage - one
  • Throwing missiles - one

Nationally, 2,264 football-related arrests were made, up from what was already an eight-year high of 2,198 in the previous campaign.

This included 200 arrests for the possession of class A drugs – which was added as an offence under the Football Spectators Act in November – and 101 arrests in England and Wales relating to the World Cup in Qatar.

According to the statistics, no Oldham Athletic fans were arrested for possessing class A drugs.

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The one Oldham fan who was arrested for throwing missiles was one of 197 fans across England and Wales to be arrested for that offence last season, a record high figure for the offence.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: "It is so important for our communities that fans can go to watch their club play without fear for their safety. Hooligans are not true fans, and have no place in the game.

"With more people banned from football for their criminal acts and illegal drug taking being tackled, we will continue to make football safer for supporters up and down the country."

Oldham Athletic declined to provide a comment for this story.