Exeter City Football Club has taken strong action against supporter misconduct, issuing five banning orders following a series of incidents at recent matches. The club confirmed the measures this week after an official statement was published on the Exeter City Football Club website, detailing unacceptable behavior from a minority of fans.
Three supporters were arrested during the away fixture at Plymouth Argyle on August 10. Subsequent enquiries led to banning orders for five individuals, four of whom are under the age of 18. These orders prohibit attendance at matches at St James Park. The incidents, which were broadcast live on Sky Sports, included 15 seats being damaged at the Argyle stadium, a lighter thrown onto the pitch, and misogynistic chanting.
The problems were not confined to the Devon derby. A separate complaint of sexual harassment was made following the Accrington Stanley match at St James Park. The club also received a report of a serious incident on Old Tiverton Road on a Saturday, where a woman was subjected to sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact. Exeter City considers this a criminal offence and is urging any witnesses to come forward. Damage to stadium property and objects thrown onto the pitch present safety risks to players and officials and carry potential costs for the club.
Manager Matt Taylor and club chair Wilf Walsh have spoken out forcefully against the behavior. Matt Taylor said: "I believe in our supporters, I always have and I always will do." He revealed that some fans have told him they no longer travel to away games due to an undertone of aggression in the stands. Wilf Walsh was equally clear. "These are not true supporters. There is no place for these behaviours in society, and there is no place for them at Exeter City Football Club," he said. Walsh confirmed the club will follow up every report and work with police to issue banning orders.
Ground regulations were updated for the 2026-27 season to improve safety and accountability. A key change is that any person under the age of 14 must now be accompanied by someone over 18, a rule the club says will be rigorously enforced. Peter Ferlie, chair of the Supporters' Trust, fully backed the club's actions. He stated this behavior has no place at Exeter City and goes against the ethos of both The Trust and the club, urging any supporter who witnesses misconduct to report it immediately.
The club's stance comes at an important time in the season. Exeter City currently sit 13th in League Two with 3 points from their opening two games, recording a win and a loss. They have scored 2 goals and conceded 1, giving them a +1 goal difference. They are three points behind early leaders Barnet. The team's immediate focus is a significant test, a home match against Barnet on September 1st. Matt Taylor stressed that the players need the supporters now more than ever, and everyone deserves to feel safe coming to a football ground. The club has pledged to take any action necessary to eradicate the minority letting it down.
