Citation, commencement and revocation

1. This Order may be cited as the Football Spectators (Designation of Football Matches in England and Wales) Order 1993 and shall come into force on 1st August 1993.

2. The Football Spectators (Designation of Football Matches in England and Wales) Order 1990(2) and article 2(2)(b) of the Sports Grounds and Football (Amendment of Various Orders) Order 1992(3) are hereby revoked.

Designation of football matches

3.-(1) Football matches of the description specified in paragraph (2) below are hereby designated for the purposes of Part I of the Football Spectators Act 1989.

(2) The football matches to which paragraph (1) above applies are any association football match which is played either at Wembley Stadium, the National Stadium in Cardiff or at a sports ground in England or Wales which is registered with the Football League or the Football Association Premier League as the home ground of a club which is a member of the Football League or the Football Association Premier League at the time the match is played.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes the Football Spectators (Designation of Football Matches in England and Wales) Order 1990 and article 2(2)(b) of the Sports Grounds and Football (Amendment of Various Orders) Order 1992 which designated association football matches for the purposes of Part I of the Football Spectators Act 1989 ("the 1989 Act") and designates those matches falling within the description set out in article 3(2) in their place. Under section 1(1) of the 1989 Act, Part I applies to designated football matches played in England and Wales.

The relevant provisions of Part I of the 1989 Act currently in force are those relating to the granting of licences by the Football Licensing Authority to admit spectators to premises for the purpose of watching any designated football match played at those premises and section 13 which gives the Authority certain functions concerning the way local authorities discharge their functions under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (c. 52) in relation to sports grounds at which designated football matches are played.The Football Spectators Act 1989 (Commencement No.4) Order 1993 (S.I.1993/1690 (C.33)) brings section 9 of the 1989 Act into force on 1st August 1993 making it an offence to admit spectators to watch designated football matches unless they are played at premises licensed by the Football Licensing Authority.

By virtue of section 14(6) of the 1989 Act, which is contained in Part II of that Act, the designation of matches for the purposes of Part I also has effect for the purposes of Part II.Under section 14(5), the offences which are "relevant" for the purposes of the making by a court of a restriction order (under section 15) are those specified in Schedule 1 to that Act as relevant offences.The offences described in paragraphs (b) to (l) of that Schedule refer to a "designated football match" and, under section 14(6), such designation refers to designation for the purposes of Part I. (In respect of certain offences, designation for the purposes of Part II is also relevant).