SOCCER violence is on the increase, Home Office figures revealed yesterday.

Cops arrested 3,842 yobs at domestic and international games last season - up 700 on 2005. Official figures show violent disorder, possession of weapons and booze-related crime are on the up.

Last year 1,048 new football banning orders were imposed, taking the total in force to a record 3,172.

Leeds United topped the league of shame with 152 outcast fans.

Three Premiership teams - Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea - were in the top ten for banning orders.

Statistics show an average of 1.21 arrests at every top-flight game last season - most concentrated in a few flashpoints, with no arrests at seven out of ten games. There were 1,225 alcohol-related offences - up 18 per cent. Champions Man United had 248 fans arrested, up 17 per cent on 2007-8, and Arsenal 105, up 35 per cent.

Arrests for violent disorder were up ten per cent to 373, weapon possession up 12 per cent to 46 and alcohol offences up 18 per cent to 1,225.

Shadow police reform minister David Ruffley demanded more police on matchdays.

CLUBS with the most banning orders by October 2008 were: 1 Leeds 152, 2 Cardiff 136, 3 Millwall 117, 4 Portsmouth 91, 5 Wolves 85, 6 Aston Villa 82, 7 Coventry 79, 8 Man Utd 78, 9 Chelsea 78, 10 Birmingham 76.