November 08, (THEWILL) – From January 1, 2022, five football clubs will take part in a safe standing trial, according to Nigel Huddleston, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Heritage and Tourism at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in Britain.
The Premier League’s Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea, as well as the Championship’s Cardiff City, have all had their bids to operate certified safe standing areas accepted. The trial signals the end of a more than 25-year prohibition on standing in English football’s top two categories.
“I’m pleased to approve these five clubs as early adopters of licensed safe standing areas for the second half of the season,” Huddleston said. “The time is now right to properly trial safe standing in the Premier League and Championship ahead of a decision on a widespread roll-out.
“Safety is absolutely paramount and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) is working hand-in-glove with the clubs on this. Fans deserve different options on how they can enjoy a live match and I will be watching the progress of these trials with interest.”
Liverpool did not seek to be a part of the pilot because they are currently conducting their own trial at Anfield with two portions of rail seats. The present trial at the Merseyside club is only intended to allow safe standing at specific moments of excitement during a game, not throughout.
At the end of the season, the club will evaluate their trial.
The independent business CFE Research will monitor the larger trial scheme, and its findings will be shared with the government in order to make a decision on whether or not to expand safe standing for next season. Safe standing spaces were promised in the government’s general election agenda for 2019, and it is a policy that has bipartisan backing.
THEWILL recalls that legislation established in the aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough catastrophe, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans, made standing sections illegal in the Premier League and Championship. The Football Supporters’ Association has long advocated for the introduction of safe standing and has applauded the government’s ideas.
Chief constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police, the UK’s football policing lead, has expressed worries about a “headlong rush” over the return of standing areas. Roberts said: “My concern is that you get over-migration into the area because it is attractive to some supporters and it is easier when they are standing up.
“You are potentially going to get issues of overcrowding [and] a more male-dominated crowd, fewer children and older people. That’s going to drive more exclusionary behaviour.”
Meanwhile, other activists are concerned that the policy’s “red tape” poses a safety danger. But, the government will go along with a trial for the period at the five designated grounds and evaluate the results at the end.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
