Five
Premier League and Championship clubs will take part in a safe standing
trial from January 1 next year, the UK sports minister Nigel Huddleston has
announced.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea and Cardiff are the
clubs whose applications to operate licensed safe standing areas have been
approved.
The trial, organised by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), marks
the end of a blanket ban on standing in the top two tiers of English
football which has been in place since 1994.
"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 EFL Championship ahead of a decision on a widespread roll-out.
"Safety is absolutely paramount and the 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."
The pilot programme will be monitored by the independent firm CFE Research,
and its findings will be provided to the government for it to make a
decision on a possible wider roll-out of safe standing for the 2022/23
season.
Liverpool are already running their own trial with two areas of rail seating
at Anfield.
The Merseyside club's current trial is only designed to allow safe standing
at particular moments of excitement in a game, rather than throughout.
The Reds will then review their trial at the end of the season.
Standing areas in what is now the Premier League and Championship were
outlawed by legislation passed in the wake of the 1989 Hillsborough
disaster, which led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.
The introduction of the standing areas follows a commitment by the
government in its 2019 General Election manifesto, and it is a move which
has cross-party support.
However, the UK's football policing lead, Chief Constable Mark Roberts of
Cheshire Police, has criticised what he sees as a "headlong rush" to
reintroduce standing areas.
He told The Times last week: "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 stood up.
"You are potentially going to get issues of overcrowding. You will
potentially get a more male-dominated crowd, fewer children and older
people. That's going to drive more exclusionary behaviour in terms of the
language and behaviour."
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