Tailgaters tackled: football ground entry without a ticket becomes criminal offence

• New law comes into force this weekend

• Measure aimed to coincide with Carabao Cup final

The government has made entering a football ground without a ticket a criminal offence from this weekend, with fans who tailgate to be given banning orders of up to five years and £1,000 fines.

The law has been introduced to coincide with Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City, after the Metropolitan police made 68 arrests of fans who attempted to gain entry to Wembley without tickets at last year’s final.