Pitch invaders will receive an automatic club ban
Pitch invaders at Premier League and English Football League matches will receive an automatic club ban under new measures to tackle fan behaviour.
Concerns were raised about safety at grounds after a number of pitch invasions at the end of last season.
Individuals who carry or use pyrotechnics or smoke bombs will also be banned and identified offenders will be reported to the police.
The Football Association will also implement tougher sanctions for clubs.
It is an offence for fans to enter the pitch “without lawful authority or lawful excuse” under the Football Offences Act 1991 – but offenders have not always been prosecuted.
However, prosecuting offenders will now be the “default response” under the new measures.
The Premier League, EFL and FA will also work with police forces to “establish a new principle for cases relating to pyrotechnics and smoke bombs”.
Premier League clubs agreed new measures to deal with pitch invasions last month following a series of incidents.
Aston Villa keeper Robin Olsen was assaulted at Manchester City on the final day of the season, while a Nottingham Forest fan was jailed for headbutting Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp at the end of their play-off match.
“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,” FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said.
“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.”