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MPs petitioned for return of standing in Premier League grounds

Today the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) will attempt to convince MPs it is now tim...
Newstalk
Newstalk

16.24 11 Dec 2012


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MPs petitioned for return of s...

MPs petitioned for return of standing in Premier League grounds

Newstalk
Newstalk

16.24 11 Dec 2012


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Today the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) will attempt to convince MPs it is now time to re-introduce standing to England’s stadia, as a safe way to bring atmosphere and cheaper ticket prices back to games. The Premier League has previously been opposed to the idea despite the evidence so far suggesting there is support for it in the wider public.

50 MPs, the West Midlands Police and 13 clubs have so far given their backing to bringing standing back to Premier League grounds.

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All seater stadia were made compulsory for clubs in the Premier League in 1994, following the publication of the Lord Justice Taylor report, which was produced in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster. Since then, however, there have been advances made in safe standing with safe standing now allowed in many clubs across Europe, with Germany held up as the model of how safe standing can work to the benefit of the fans and clubs with no risk to spectators.

Support from clubs and police

The chief executive of Aston Villa, Paul Faulkner, and the Superintendent of the West Midland Police Force, Steven Graham, will support the FSF proposal when the presentation is made to MPs in Westminster.

The FSF also has the support of the Scottish Premier League and several football league clubs in England, including Aston Villa, Cardiff City and Crystal Palace. West Ham chairman David Gold has also stated that if West Ham get a move to the Olympic Stadium he will support safe standing in their new ground.

The FSF proposal is to introduce the German system of safe standing to British grounds. This system involves a series of railings which can allow two rows of fans to stand between any two rows of railings, or can be altered to seating for European games when all seater stadia are compulsory.

The FSF safe standing co-odinator, Peter Daykin, has said to the BBC: "The debate about standing has reached a point where both sides are entrenched.

"The bottom line is things have changed dramatically sicne 23 years ago when the Taylor Report was produced.

"Things have moved on massively in terms of technology and know-how around safety in football grounds.

"So, what we are calling for is a number of small-scale trials at Premier League clubs up and down the country.

"Then experts, safety officer and the police can see how it works in a modern context."

 One major obstacle to the proposals is the Premier League's reluctance to approve. Standing areas would necessitate lower priced tickets and the clubs are believed to be reluctant to risk a loss in revenue.

In Germany's Bundesliga a certain percentage of all tickets must be set at a low price to accommodate effective social inclusion in football by ensuring Germans of all economic circumstances can attend top flight football.

A complaint of several supporters groups in the past has been that traditional English football fans have been priced out of attending games by high ticket prices that cater more to a middle class, middle aged market or the football tourist market. It is hoped the introduction of safe standing areas, and the corresponding lower ticket prices, would allow those marginalised groups to attend games more regularly.


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