As Wolves prepare for a new Premier League season, the club can now reflect on supporter sanction data collected across the 2024/25 campaign, both at Molineux and on the road, which has been made public via wolves.co.uk.
In recent years Wolves took the unprecedented step of releasing information on actions taken against individuals who breached ground regulations or committed football-related offences, and now a fresh set of data is available for the entire 2024/25 campaign, which brought 20 competitive Molineux matches and 23 away from home for the club’s senior men’s team.
The standout figures from the season were that of incident management and sanctioning, which both grew on last season’s total, down in large part to more efficient and better quality reporting from those supporters who have witnessed incidents on matchdays.
At Molineux matches, those reports come from fellow home supporters and stewards, while reports away from home are received through a combined communication with the home club.
Across the campaign there were 95 incidents reported, 73 of which took place at Molineux (home fans only), and 24 of those incidents led to banning sanctions. Six of those bans will run for three years and a further eight are indefinite, while the other ten remain indefinite while pending police investigation.
Of those incidents not leading to a long-term ban, 37 resulted in a spent ban of up to one year, 32 led to a warning regarding future behaviour and the remaining two brought about no further action.
The data delves further into the reasons behind the sanctions, with the most common proving to be foul and abusive language and/or behaviour, physical assault on another individual, homophobic hate crime or discrimination and possession of illegal substance and refused entry.
Across the past 12 months, 18 Acceptable Behaviour Agreements were issued, while three historical bans have been suspended under the Acceptable Behaviour Agreement and three historic incidents from previous seasons have since resulted in a three-year football banning order.
Steve Sutton, Wolves facilities, safety & security director, said: “At Wolves, we remain firmly committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for all. The increase in incident reporting and sanctioning reflects not only our zero-tolerance stance on unacceptable behaviour, but also the growing confidence of our supporters and stewards in reporting issues.
“We will continue to act decisively against discrimination and abuse, whether in person or online, and we encourage all fans to play their part in upholding the values that define our club.”
As Wolves continue to make Molineux a safer and more welcoming environment, fans are encouraged, if they see or hear racist, sexist, homophobic, or other discriminatory or anti-social behaviour on matchday, to report it to a matchday steward, or text the Not In Our Pack text line on 07723 479887 and start the message with WOLVES.
The full 2024/25 Wolves sanction data is as follows
Location of incident
- Home matches | 73
- Away matches | 22
Total number of incidents | 95
Sanction type
Banned three years/indefinitely/awaiting police investigation | 24
Broken down by ban type
- Three-year Football Behaviour Order (FBO) and/or three-year club ban | 6
- Indefinite | 8
- Indefinite until police investigation concluded. Club action to be taken thereafter | 10
- Spent ban (varying from 1-12 months) | 37
- No further action | 2
- Warning regarding future behaviour | 32
Total number of sanctions issued | 95
- Categorisation of incidents, leading to investigation and/or sanction
- Aggressive behaviour and language | 5
- Discharge of a pyrotechnic | 2
- Drunk, disorderly and a criminal act | 3
- Exposure | 1
- Foul and abusive language and/or seat damage | 2
- Foul and abusive language and/or behaviour | 14
- Foul and abusive digital communications | 1
- Homophobic hate crime/discrimination | 10
- Inappropriate behaviour and breach of ground regulations | 2
- Intoxication and ejection | 1
- Lewd gestures | 1
- Misogyny/sexism | 2
- Obstructive behaviour towards supporters and/or stewards | 2
- Physical assault of another individual | 13
- Pitch incursion or breach | 4
- Possession of an illegal substance and arrest | 1
- Possession of an illegal substance and refused entry | 10
- Public disorder | 1
- Racial hate crime/discrimination | 6
- Smoking or vaping | 3
- Spitting and foul language | 1
- Supporter conflict and disorder | 2
- Ticket sharing and misuse | 6
- Tragedy gesturing | 1
- Unauthorised entry | 1
Total incidents | 95
Further information
- Number of Acceptable Behaviour Agreements issued (does not include those persons still under investigation) | 18
- Historical ban suspension under an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement | 3
- Historic incident from previous season, resulting in a three-year football banning order | 3
As well as in person on matchdays, Wolves operate a strict zero tolerance to online hate, and any supporter found to have acted in a discriminatory manner could face investigation or sanction.
