http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/standing-return-premier-league-football-4087458 The Safe Standing Campaign said the Taylor report did not find the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy was caused by standing but by overcrowding, stadium layout and poor policing. Aston Villa and Sunderland are among the top clubs to support a return to standing. Manchester United are broadly in favour, while Liverpool are known to be against any change. Look at the shots of singing, passionate football fans behind the goals at any Premier League ground on Match of the Day this weekend and the odds are theyâll be standing up. Home fans and especially the away fans. They bring the noise and colour to the game, âsing their hearts out for the ladsâ and pay a princely sum for the privilege. Yet they are standing in areas not designed for the purpose. Behind seats with low backs. And although appreciated for their vocal support, they are technically being naughty boys and girls, in breach of ground regulations.
Ridiculous this. The way the grounds are now is dangerous because of people standing. Poor buggers at away games often get a seat behind a load of people standing. They need to just let the clubs put in safe standing areas and stick to the capacities of those areas. How many people go to festival that are 50,000 people all stood in mud. Or even concerts at football stadiums where its all standing on the pitch. Thats safe with 1 barrier at the front. So why is it not safe at a football game.
Bang on Vegas. The only reason I can see that the won't come in is that they should make football cheaper.
Well that changes my opinion of the Lib Dems will I be voting for them NO http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28886330 Safe standing: Lib Dems make 2015 General Election pledge By Richard Conway BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent The Liberal Democrats want to change the law and allow Premier League and Championship clubs to introduce safe standing at stadiums. The party has confirmed to BBC Sport it plans to make the pledge as part of its 2015 General Election manifesto. Currently, the Football Spectators Act 1989 requires safety authorities to ensure fans attending games in England's top two divisions are seated. However, the party is not advocating a return to open terracing. Play mediaJump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.Jon Darch demonstrates the new stadium safe standing seat It believes rail seats, popular in German football, should be introduced if clubs wish to install standing sections. Rail seats can be locked in an upright position to allow fans to stand and lean against a barrier. However, the seats can also be unlocked to comply with all-seater stadium rules, as and when required. The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) has led a campaign in favour of safe standing for several years. "Football can't bury its head in the sand," said an FSF spokesman. "Tens of thousands already stand at games. Who uses rail seats? They are used at grounds in countries like Austria, Germany and Sweden. A number of teams in Germany's Bundesliga use them, including Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Hamburg and Werder Bremen. They can be unlocked or locked to create a standing or seated area. In Germany, seats are used for European matches but not league games. "Clubs who back rail seats are simply listening to their fans and responding to safety needs. "Germany has had rail seats for many years and they have had no problems. The Government tells us it needs robust proof, so let's have a trial and see." Several Premier League clubs - including Aston Villa, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Swansea City - now back the introduction of rail seats on a trial basis. The Football League has also lobbied for a change in legislation given a number of its 72 clubs would like to implement standing in their grounds. Chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "Since being given a mandate by our clubs to lobby for a change to the law on the use of standing accommodation, we have had useful discussions with the Sports Minister and other relevant stakeholders on this matter. "We recognise that this is an extremely emotive issue and that significant change isn't necessarily going to happen overnight. However, a logical first step would be for safe standing products, such as rail-seating, to be licensed for use by the relevant authorities. This would enable one of the 21 Football League clubs that is not currently required by law to have an all-seater stadium to install a pilot scheme at its ground. "This would give everybody greater insight into the use of this type of accommodation and help take the debate forward in a cautious and responsible manner, as it would not require any changes to the existing law as these clubs are already permitted to have fans standing at their matches." Play mediaJump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.Fans want safe standing - Fry However, the Premier League has reiterated its opposition, telling BBC Sport: "It remains the Premier League's position that stadiums should be all-seat, in line with government policy, and we will not be encouraging the government to change the law." Liberal Democrat spokesperson John Leech MP believes the evidence to allow standing is overwhelming. "Safe standing is allowed in many other sports and we do not believe that the top level of football should be an exception," he said. "We are not calling for a return of the terraces of the 1980s. Modern safe standing areas using rail seating operate very successfully in top-tier football across Europe." With the Liberal Democrats struggling in the polls, an outright victory for the party in next year's election may seem unlikely. However, the formation of another coalition government could see safe standing feature in any negotiations between the parties over a combined legislative agenda. Following the recommendations of Lord Justice Taylor's report into the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives, clubs in the top two tiers of English football have been required to provide every spectator with a seat. The memorial at Anfield serves as a constant reminder of the Hillsborough disaster The Liberal Democrat pledge promises to amend the law to allow safety authorities in England and Wales to issue guidance to clubs on how safe standing could be introduced. The FSF also claims safe standing would make it cheaper for fans to watch games. "Standing areas in safety-conscious nations such as Germany are traditionally far cheaper, with season tickets available for a fraction of the cost at equivalent-sized clubs in the UK," added the spokesman. Hannover's stadium has safe standing areas, allowing an extra 2,700 unseated fans to watch the match Leech agrees, adding: "Safe standing offers supporters more choice, a better atmosphere and cheaper tickets. It is an idea whose time has come and I am proud that it is the Liberal Democrats who are the first political party to commit to delivering this." Earlier this year, Bristol City installed a small section of rail seats at their Ashton Gate stadium. However, they are only able to utilise them during Bristol Rugby games which also take place at the ground. Play mediaJump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.Bristol City trial safe standing area Scottish Premiership clubs are also strong backers of safe standing. However, Celtic's application to install a section of rail seating was rejected by Glasgow City Council earlier this month. The council claimed Celtic's plan did not offer enough assurances to its safety advice group, which included representatives from the emergency services. In Wales, Assembly members recently voted 26-1 to support the introduction of safe standing, believing that football should be no different from rugby or other sports. However, as the laws relating to standing are not devolved, any change in Wales would require Westminster MPs to vote in favour of reform. Strong opposition to standing does remain, with the Association of Chief Police Officers saying previously that they would need to be convinced over whether it could work within some of England's largest stadiums. The Hillsborough Families Support Group have also steadfastly maintained their position against any return of standing.
On the issue of so-called 'Safe Standing areas', the Premier League have issued a statement. It read: "It remains the Premier League's position that stadiums should be all-seat, in line with government policy, and we will not be encouraging the Government to change the law. "Since the introduction of all-seater grounds the supporter experience has improved significantly and we have seen more diverse crowds attending Premier League matches, including more women and children. "The police, safety officers and licensing authorities remain clear and have consistently informed us that crowd management has improved as a result of all-seater stadiums being in place in the top two divisions in this country."
Can I just say? How the **** can they ever make standing safe at old trafford? It's so steep it's almost vertical. It's one of the most badly designed stadiums I've ever been to. Cant see a standing area going back very far at old trafford. They'd have to curve it round pitch level, it would be ****.
