Safe Standing

The government have knocked back another attempt to introduce it, saying that they remain unconvinced.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38923080
It doesn't really spell out what steps are needed to convince them, though.

Obviously we don't want a return to the old terraces and cages, but I'm not sure what the issue here is.
It seems to work elsewhere and Celtic have trialed it, so why not allow similar trials in England?

 

There's no genuine reason to knock it back on safety grounds imo.

At aways everyone stands anyway, so which is safer, standing in areas designed to be seated, or simply installing safe standing areas that are designed for that purpose?

The cloud of Hillsborough obviously still hangs over this issue in this country, so I think heart is ruling head on this one tbh.

 

I suppose when as Country and an organisation(FA) you have had to endure a few tragedies in the past then you are slower than the rest on the uptake of any idea that might suggest a return to terracing..

I'd like to see it because of the atmosphere it can generate. However I haven't looked into it enough to see how it is fool proof and improved enough for me to be confident in it yet.

 

I would say it has little to do with safety directly, but it's easier to control people in seated areas than it is standing areas.
It isn't the FA that's resistant, it's the government.

 

I'm all for it ... would help get the singing sections back behind the goals ... problem with governments is that they tend to appoint ***** like Colin Moynihan as sports minister..... on the basis that siiting in a boat whilst four other blokes row somehow makes you an expert on the national game ... why he has not been taken more to task for the bollox he spouted about Hillsborough back in the day is baffling

 

It's simple really. Create space for a certain amount of people, and only sell a certain amount of tickets. Don't see the problem personally.

 

Ha, Colin Moynihan. Lord Haw Haw England fans used to call him.

 

Discussion of safe standing is wasted during a Tory administration. They're not having it because it necessarily throws further light on Hillsborough, Thatcher, Murdoch, etc. and none of it reflects well on them or their friends. However, it's on the agenda and will happen under a more receptive regime. Spurs new stadium is being built with it as a possible future option. I'm sure others will do the same, too.

I'm 6' 5" and used to stand on The Shelf. I don't fit in most seats in stadiums, so, unsurprisingly, I'm all for safe standing. You may not be so keen if you stand behind me as I can block out the light. However, standing in an area which is designed for it is safer than doing it with seats getting in the way.

 

I've always been an advocate of safe standing. I think it was my first thread on this forum and I used to discuss it on BBC 606.

As Brian says above, there's no appetite for it from a tory govt, because of the personalities involved and the hangover from Hillsborough, even though the Taylor report said very soon after that the Terraces were not to blame.

I think the last Sports minister said something along the lines of 'Nobody wants their head on a stake' if anything goes wrong with standing (a particularly insensitive analogy to use) and shows that none of them have the balls to implement it, because they are more concerned with their own reputations than actually doing the job they are employed to do.

All of the evidence says that safe standing works. It's used widely across Europe and has been for years, the benefits far outweigh the negatives, but it will take a radical and courageous group of people in Govt and the FA to implement it.

 

I'd like to see a section of 'safe standing' at all Premiership clubs next season as a trial.