Premier League clubs and leading sports bodies increasingly fear they will be forced to pay millions more to cover policing costs after being called in for a series of consultations with the Home Office starting this week.
As things stand, football clubs only have to pay for policing of their own land. However, senior officers believe clubs and not the taxpayer should pay the £71m per season it costs to maintain law and order in surrounding areas as well as in stadiums on matchdays. Football League games, international rugby and cricket matches and the London Marathon could all be affected if the plans go ahead, along with events such as the Notting Hill carnival and Pride.
