Brighton 'can dream' of Premier League title charge after surge to second place

Sir Mark Rowley, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has urged Premier League teams to reimburse local forces for the expenses incurred in policing football matches. The cost of policing the six Premier League clubs, as well as eight others based in the capital, amounts to around £20 million annually. In the period between August and December last year, the cost was estimated at £12.3 million, with 40,000 officers deployed during the previous two seasons.

Rowley stated that the recovery rate for the 2024-25 season was only eight percent, with the outgoing costs reaching £23.4 million and clubs contributing a mere £2.1 million. The Commissioner believes that the police should be compensated for their resources, as they are currently not responsible for most of the expenses. He added that the government is considering this matter but has not yet made any progress.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan expressed support for the Commissioner's proposal, noting that Premier League clubs generate significant revenues and benefit from the safe environment provided by police officers. Khan believed that clubs should contribute to the cost of maintaining safety for fans, families, and local communities.

London Assembly member Joanne McCartney emphasized the need for a fairer share of policing costs, pointing out that the Met is already facing pressure to deliver essential services, including counter-terrorism policing. McCartney contended that the burden of policing football matches should not be placed on the public, including fans of rival clubs.

She argued that Premier League clubs generate substantial revenues and rely on a safe environment provided by police officers, making it only right that they contribute towards the cost of keeping supporters and local communities safe.