Stand and deliver? 20 years after all-seater stadiums arrived in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, pressure is growing to allow fans to stand again. The Mail on Sunday’s survey found that Liverpool are the only club completely opposed to standing at games — this policy being ‘in line with the wishes of the Hillsborough families’. Almost 20 years after the mandatory introduction of all-seater stadiums in top-flight English football — the key recommendation of the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster — the campaign to allow fans to stand again at Premier League matches is gathering massive momentum. The issue is one of the most controversial on football’s agenda. Many fans are in favour of grounds being given standing-only areas, and argue that all-seater stadiums are robbing the game of much of its atmosphere. High-profile figures such as Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Tottenham’s Andre Villas-Boas have spoken out over what they claim is a lack of atmosphere at grounds, while Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger, says he is ‘100 per cent’ in favour of safe standing. And the club’s chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, asks: ‘Why would you be against it, if you can do it safely?’ But not everybody agrees. The Premier League argue that stadiums have been family-friendly and largely full in the all-seat era, and the police say seated crowds are easier to monitor and control. Now a survey by The Mail on Sunday — after a week in which new large-scale research among Arsenal and Aston Villa fans showed overwhelming support for standing areas — has shown that 19 of the 20 current Premier League clubs say they either actively support or would consider safe standing, if legislation allowed it, or are open- minded on the issue. The clubs find themselves in an awkward position. The Premier League’s official policy is against allowing fans to stand, and some clubs remain wary of making public comments which challenge that view. But some club bosses are prepared to speak out. Chelseas Jose Mourinho For: Jose Mourinho Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas For: Andre Villas-Boas Arsenals French manager Arsene Wenger For: Arsene Wenger Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner told The Mail on Sunday: ‘We are in favour of a safe standing trial. The Football Supporters’ Federation were at Villa Park last Monday, talking through the whole topic of safe standing and how we can highlight the campaign and push it forward.’ Hull vice-chairman Ehab Allam added: ‘It (standing) is definitely something we are supportive of and we are talking to Hull City Official Supporters’ Club. We believe there should be a place for every type of fan at the KC Stadium.’ And Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said: ‘We would be happy to work with the relevant bodies to look at whether this is something that could be implemented by Swansea City. ‘It would require consultation with our fans (through the Supporters’ Trust) but we are happy to support the overall approach and to work to see if this is something that could be trialled at our stadium.’ Other clubs have discovered that the Premier League’s no-standing policy is not as clear cut as their public statements imply. Indeed, the League have effectively been telling some clubs that they can sell tickets in either ‘seated’ and ‘standing’ areas. In an official Premier League letter, sent to a fan and seen by this newspaper, the League admit that it is ‘a concern’ that some elderly people, children and those with mobility issues are inconvenienced by fans who want to stand. The letter adds: ‘We are working with the clubs to find more imaginative ways of selling tickets to ensure that everyone can see.’ This is understood to be a reference to the Premier League giving their blessing to the sale of tickets on the basis of whether fans definitely intend to sit throughout a match. Crystal Palace, for example, try to ensure that at away matches their fans who want to sit and enjoy an unobstructed view are allocated seats at the front, while those who want to stand are given positions further back. According to Palace, the Premier League’s head of supporter services, Cathy Long, advised the club that this was a sensible approach to ensure sitting fans get a good view. A Premier League source confirmed Long had given this advice. Several club officials have told The Mail on Sunday that they consider it ‘odd’ and ‘hypocritical’ that the League ban standing fans on the one hand, yet openly acknowledge that a standing ban creates problems to the extent the League encourage ‘imaginative’ solutions to ticketing. One club director, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: ‘We’re in a ridiculous situation where the Premier League is effectively tolerating standing because it’s impossible and impractical to prevent it, but the Premier League won’t say this openly and don’t want the clubs to say it, either.’ Indeed, the League’s letter to the fan who asked about standing insisted: ‘The debate [about safe standing] is not one that we are engaged in.’ A Premier League spokesman told The Mail on Sunday: ‘There are some persistent standing issues at certain clubs and we are working with them... to manage that safely. That includes working with clubs to explore ways of making sure that families, young fans and senior citizens, are offered the opportunity to purchase tickets in sections that have not had persistent standing issues in the past.’ All-seater stadiums have been compulsory in the Premier League and the Championship since the start of the 1994-95 season, at the recommendation of the Taylor Report. That landmark document, published in 1990, sought to establish the causes of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which cost 96 Liverpool fans their lives, and to make recommendations on safety in the future. Tragedy: It has been 20 years since all-seater stadiums were introduced following the Hillsborough disaster Hillsborough: 96 people were killed and 766 injured during the FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest Q: Why is the ‘safe standing’ debate back on the agenda? A: New, large-scale research at Arsenal and Aston Villa, among other clubs, shows that a large majority of fans would like the option of standing at Premier League games. Villa have gone as far as identifying a corner of Villa Park where a trial could take place — if they were allowed. Q: Why aren’t they allowed to do so? A: Since 1994-95, it has been a legal requirement for Premier League clubs to have all-seater stadiums, so there are no standing areas at all. This was a recommendation of the Taylor Report (1990) following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Q: How might change happen? A: There needs to be a change in the law to allow Premier League and Championship clubs to introduce standing areas. That will require political support. The Premier League say they will not lobby for that unless clubs demand it. Q: Are there examples of safe standing in other major leagues? A: Yes. notably in Germany, where Bundesliga season tickets as cheap as £120 for standing places are available at big clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Dortmund’s standing grandstand, known as ‘The Yellow Wall’, holds 25,000 supporters. Q: Isn’t it expensive and difficult to reconfigure stadiums? A: Pro-standing advocates insist not and, with ‘rail seating’ the only change needed is an extra step for depth and a protective rail for each person. There is a one-off cost of £100 per place. So a standing area for 2,000 would cost around £200,000 — a week’s wages for a top striker. Q: If it’s so simple, easy and safe, why hasn’t it happened already? A: The perception that standing equates to hooliganism abides in some quarters. Sensitivities around standing are acute for obvious reasons, not least because of the new inquests next year into the Hillsborough fatalities. And police argue they can monitor sitting crowds much more easily. The Mail on Sunday’s survey found that Liverpool are the only club completely opposed to standing at games — this policy being ‘in line with the wishes of the Hillsborough families’. Some Liverpool fans’ groups have voiced support for standing, however, arguing that terracing did not cause the Hillsborough disaster. Elsewhere, the 95 per cent level of support for at least a debate about standing is an all-time high among Premier League clubs. The surge in momentum has been driven by fan support and by the clubs’ widespread acknowledgement that the atmosphere within grounds could be improved. High-profile supporters of safe standing range from West Ham’s co-owner, David Gold, and manager Sam Allardyce to Wembley architect John Barrow and the former Downing Street director of communications, Burnley fan Alastair Campbell. Villa last week became the latest club to publish research showing their fans are in favour of a new safe standing area, with 97.5 per cent of Villa fans supportive. Other clubs actively calling for safe standing trials are Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Hull, Sunderland and Swansea, with Cardiff and Palace already operating ‘safe standing’ policies of sorts. David Gold at West Ham is supportive of safe standing, too, and sources at both Manchester United and Manchester City say they would be prepared to consider standing, as and when allowed. Bringing back standing would necessitate a change in the law, hence the need to engage political support. Opponents of standing say there is a heightened risk of trouble and that the police do not want standing. But Bundesliga clubs in Germany allow safe standing at league games — cheap tickets and a good atmosphere have become part of the German football’s success story. Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Southampton, Stoke and West Brom all say the decision ultimately lies with the Government but all, publicly or privately, say they would not be averse to trials of standing, if allowed. An Arsenal fans’ poll of 17,000 supporters found a massive majority in favour of standing last week. Chelsea, meanwhile, will consult their supporters on the issue at a forum on December 1. Everton, Newcastle, Norwich and Tottenham all describe their positions as having a ‘watching brief’ and or being ‘open minded’, as well as wanting to cater to supporters’ wishes if their fans want to stand. Put it to the vote: A poll found the majority of Arsenal fans are in favour of standing Bad luck Arsene? A poll found the majority of Arsenal fans are in favour of standing Michael Brunskill, a spokesman for the Football Supporters’ Federation, said: ‘The overwhelming majority of fans back the choice to sit or stand and it’s great that more clubs are taking note. ‘Most fans who wish to stand cite atmosphere as the main factor. If you’re in a church, you stand up to sing, and it’s no different in a football ground. Standing ends at stadiums generate a better atmosphere. ‘Safe standing areas aren’t going to be introduced tomorrow but things are certainly heading in the right direction.’ mail
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 18:00:00 +0000
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