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Football clubs can cut costs for police despite disorder at matches doubling in last four years

Football clubs are looking to reduce policing costs — despite disorder at games doubling in four years, Sportsmail can reveal.

Previously unpublished figures reveal that the pitch invasion which saw Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero spat at and verbally abused after his side's FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Wigan last month reflects a rising tide of anti-social behaviour, with 853 incidents of disorder inside stadiums last season.

That was nearly three times the number 10 years ago and included 154 attacks on clubs' own stadium staff — a five-fold increase in the last decade.