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A man has become the first person in the UK to be charged with tailgating. The 27-year-old was arrested at the Carabao Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City on Sunday (March 22) hours and he is accused of entering a football match without a ticket became a criminal offence.

Benjamin Bailey, of Fifth Avenue, Oldham, Greater Manchester, was charged at 7.45pm today, according to Scotland Yard. He is due to appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court on Friday, May 1 in connection with the alleged offence.

The Met Police said two other men were arrested on suspicion of the same offence at Wembley and they remain in police custody.

Anyone convicted of tailgating faces being banned from attending football matches for up to five years and a fine up to £1,000.

A criminal offence from today, tailgating legislation was introduced because of the serious disorder which tainted the European Championship final between England and Italy at Wembley in July 2021.

That final saw thousands of fans force their way inside the stadium in north London.

Scotland Yard said it saw offences at this year's final drop by 78%.

Twenty arrests were made, including seven for affray, one for assault of an emergency service worker and one for racially aggravated assault. The Met Police said this compares with 91 arrests at the same fixture last year.

Ch Insp Pete Dearden, match commander at Wembley, said: "So much strategic planning goes into these operations. We expect high standards and every officer delivered that today.

"Huge changes have been implemented since last year and we will now use the success of the policing operation today as a blueprint throughout the busy summer at Wembley so fans can safely enjoy upcoming fixtures."

Police said a male was also arrested on Sunday on suspicion of tailgating at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where Spurs faced Nottingham Forest. He has been bailed pending further investigation, according to the Met Police.