Arsenal's Zero-Tolerance Policy on Abuse and Discrimination
Arsenal have underlined their zero-tolerance stance on abuse and discrimination after issuing stadium bans and football banning orders to nine supporters across the 2025-26 season.
The Premier League champions released the figures ahead of the new domestic campaign, setting a firm tone before a ball is kicked.
Arsenal draw a hard line
The sanctions, ranging from one to three years, cover offences including assault, homophobia, racism, antisemitism and what the club described as “other abusive or intimidating behaviour”. Those punished are barred from attending any match involving Arsenal.
The club also confirmed it is working with police on 13 further live investigations into alleged in-person or online offences. The individuals involved remain under Arsenal’s own disciplinary processes while those cases move through the legal system.
Chief executive Richard Garlick, speaking via the club’s official channels, framed the measures as a direct defence of Arsenal’s identity.
“This season gave us many moments to be proud of and showed once again the role football can play in bringing people together,” he said. He highlighted the “overwhelming majority” of supporters who help make Arsenal “a welcoming, inclusive and respectful place to be”, insisting those standards define both the matchday experience and how the club presents itself globally.
Then came the line that leaves no room for doubt: “Abuse and discrimination have no place at Arsenal, whether in our stadium or online.”
Garlick stressed that, while the incidents involve only a small minority, the club will “continue to take action when they happen, while doing everything we can to protect our players, staff, supporters and communities.”
Data-led crackdown
Behind the scenes, Arsenal have turned to data to track the scale of the problem. Working with data science firm Signify Group, the club identified more than 17,700 messages and comments deemed abusive and directed at individuals and accounts connected to Arsenal over the course of the season — a sharp increase on the previous year.
From 267 completed investigations, 39 individuals were identified and referred either to Arsenal or rival clubs for disciplinary action. Nine of those cases were escalated to law enforcement.
The club says its partnership with Signify Group will continue, with a clear brief: identify offenders, report abusive content to social media platforms and pursue action when behaviour crosses the line.
This is not a PR flourish; it is a structural move. Arsenal are effectively telling their own fans and the wider football audience that the digital space around the club is now being policed with the same seriousness as the stands at the Emirates.
Champions sharpening up
All of this plays out against a backdrop of on-field ambition. Arsenal resume their pre-season schedule on Wednesday against Italian side Como, coached by former Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas. It is a neat narrative twist: a club icon in the opposite dugout as Arsenal tune up for another title push.
The weekend brings a first piece of silverware to contest. FA Cup winners Manchester City await in Cardiff in the Community Shield on Sunday, a familiar measuring stick between the dominant forces of the English game.
New signing Bruno Guimaraes could feature in the coming days after his £75 million move from Newcastle, adding another layer of intrigue to Mikel Arteta’s evolving midfield. The manager is now in the fine-tuning phase, shaping the details of a side expected to defend their crown with authority.
That defence begins at home to newly promoted Coventry on 21 August. Arsenal want the Emirates loud, partisan and unforgiving for opponents. They also want it safe, inclusive and aligned with the values Garlick has laid out so bluntly.
The message is clear: bring the noise, leave the hate at the door.
