The number of Brighton and Hove Albion fans arrested at football matches has increased by more than 50 per cent.

The list of offences, which may have taken place in or around the ground, included pitch invasions, violence and racist chanting.

Official Home Office statistics released today show 38 fans were arrested by the police at league games in 2001/2 compared with 25 in the 2000/1 season.

The club's record was the fifth worst in Division Two, from which Albion won promotion in May.

Only Port Vale United, Stoke City, Cardiff City and Bristol City had more fans arrested, according to police minister John Denham.

The majority of the arrests, 29, were at away matches. Nine followed home games at Withdean.

A breakdown reveals one of the arrests was for violent disorder, seven for public disorder, three for racist chanting, seven for running on to the pitch, 12 for alcohol offences and eight for other miscellaneous offences.

A total of seven banning orders, which prevent admission to any football ground at home or abroad, including the World Cup, were served on Albion fans last season.

In England and Wales, the number of fans arrested fell by 264 to 3,898. The statistics for all league matches are down 30 per cent on ten years ago.

The figures come in a year of record attendances. Of the 27,761,187 fans who attended games, only 0.01 per cent were arrested.

In addition, there were no public order incidents involving England fans during the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Mr Denham said he believed the overall fall in arrests was due to the increased use of football banning orders.

These are imposed by courts at the request of police where intelligence suggests fans are likely to cause trouble.