Rejected petition Ban spitting by players and staff in professional football stadiums

To work with The FA, the Premier League, and other football authorities to introduce rules banning spitting by players and coaching staff anywhere within professional football stadiums, including the field of play, touchlines, and technical areas, with appropriate sanctions during matches.

More details

Spitting is normalised in professional football. Bodily fluids within these environments pose H&S risk to everyone working in close proximity.
footballers & coaches are visible role models. Spitting during TV matches encourages imitation by children at grassroots level.
The IFAB already punish spitting at another person. This should be extended to all spitting within football. Other elite sports have high standards of conduct without spitting & football should meet the same expectations.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 8 February 2026
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