Sporting Events Practice Questions

Free NPPF Step 2 Sporting Events questions with full answers, for Sergeant and Inspector candidates.

20+ questions in the full bankType A format

About this topic

Sporting events questions test offences connected with football and designated sporting events, and football banning orders.

Know the alcohol offences on vehicles and at grounds, the offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991, and when a court must make a banning order.

Key legislation and cases

Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985
Football (Offences) Act 1991
Football Spectators Act 1989

Worked examples

Try each question before opening the answer. Every option is explained, because the exam usually turns on why the near-miss answers are wrong.

Worked question 1 of 2Standard

DC Morrison is reviewing a case where Holloway was convicted of a football-related public order offence. The prosecution considers applying for a football banning order under the Football Spectators Act 1989. Holloway's solicitor asks whether the court is obliged to make a banning order on conviction. Which of the following correctly states the position?

AWhere a person is convicted of a relevant offence, the court must make a football banning order unless it is satisfied that there are particular circumstances which would make it unjust in all the circumstances to do so.
BWhere a person is convicted of a relevant offence, the court may make a football banning order at its discretion - there is no presumption in favour of making an order and the prosecution must make out a positive case for one.
CWhere a person is convicted of a relevant offence, the court must make a football banning order - there is no exception and the court has no discretion to decline to make one.
DWhere a person is convicted of a relevant offence, the court must make a football banning order unless the defendant can prove on the balance of probabilities that they do not pose a risk of future disorder at football matches.

Show answer and explanation

Answer: A

Under s.14A Football Spectators Act 1989, where a person is convicted of a relevant offence, the court must make a football banning order unless it is satisfied that there are particular circumstances relating to the offence or offender which would make it unjust to do so. This is a strong presumption in favour of making an order - but the court retains a narrow discretion.

s.14A Football Spectators Act 1989

s.14A(2): "If the court is satisfied that there are particular circumstances relating to the offence or to the offender which would make it unjust in all the circumstances to make a banning order, it is not required to make one."

B: Option B understates the position - the court must make an order unless particular circumstances justify not doing so. It is not a matter of pure discretion.
C: The order is not entirely mandatory without exception. The court has a narrow discretion where particular circumstances make it unjust.
D: The burden is not on the defendant to prove no future risk. The exception turns on whether the court identifies particular circumstances.

Worked question 2 of 2Standard

PC Veitch stops a minibus on a dual carriageway. The vehicle is carrying 14 people travelling to a designated football match. PC Veitch finds several open cans of beer in the vehicle and three passengers who appear drunk. The driver, Rackett, is sober. PC Veitch considers offences under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985. Which of the following most accurately states the legal position?

AThe passengers in possession of open alcohol commit an offence under the 1985 Act because they are travelling to a designated sporting event in a public service vehicle and are in possession of alcohol during the journey.
BThe passengers in possession of alcohol commit no offence because the prohibition on alcohol on vehicles only applies to the driver - passengers are not covered by the 1985 Act's vehicle provisions.
CNo offence is committed by any person in the vehicle because the 1985 Act's vehicle provisions only apply once the vehicle has arrived at the designated sports ground.
DThe passengers in possession of alcohol commit an offence only if they are also drunk - mere possession of alcohol in a vehicle travelling to a match is insufficient without drunkenness.

Show answer and explanation

Answer: A

Section 1 SECofAA 1985 makes it an offence for a person to have alcohol in their possession on a public service vehicle being used for the principal purpose of carrying passengers to or from a designated sporting event. The minibus carrying 14 people to a designated football match is being used for that principal purpose. Passengers who possess open cans of alcohol commit the offence during the journey - arrival at the ground is not required. The driver being sober is irrelevant to the passengers' liability.

s.1 Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985

s.1(2) SECofAA 1985: A person who has alcohol in his possession while on a vehicle to which this section applies is guilty of an offence. s.1(1): This section applies to a public service vehicle being used for the principal purpose of carrying passengers to or from a designated sporting event.

B: The vehicle provisions under s.1 apply to all persons on the vehicle, not just the driver. Passengers in possession of alcohol on a qualifying vehicle commit the offence.
C: The offence is committed during the journey to or from the designated sporting event - the vehicle does not need to have arrived at the ground.
D: The s.1 offence covers possession of alcohol on a qualifying vehicle - it does not require the person to also be drunk. Being drunk is a separate offence. Possession alone, without drunkenness, commits the offence.

Practise every Sporting Events question

The full bank has 20+ questions on Sporting Events and over 1,100 across the whole syllabus, each with the statute and an explanation for every option. £29 for 6 months.

Get full access Try 5 free questions