Guest michaelfoster Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 The Premier League will oppose moves to reintroduce standing areas at top-flight football matches in England. The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) is to launch an online petition calling for the return of standing areas in the top two divisions. But Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said: "Our view is that the benefits of all-seater stadia far outweigh the return of standing areas." Terraces were banned following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. The issue of allowing some standing areas has been revisited a number of times since all-seater stadiums became compulsory in 1994. Kate Hoey tried to back a scheme when she was sports minister in 2001 but the-then Government blocked it. The FSF held a meeting on Monday with representatives from the police, Government and football authorities. FSF chairman Malcolm Clarke argued that many fans already stand all match despite having seats which is viewed as a safety risk. Clarke told the Guardian: "Fans do believe they have lost something in the move to all-seating. We will be doing further research to respond to the concerns of those who are not yet convinced." Sports minister Hugh Robertson said he would examine the evidence for safe standing but played down any likelihood of a change to the law. Referring to the prospect of an accident or crowd trouble if terraces were reintroduced, Robertson told the meeting: "The minister's head would be on a spike on Tower Bridge before he could draft a resignation letter." The Government insists no compelling case has been made to bring back standing areas. "Football grounds are safer and more comfortable than they were 20 years ago," said a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. "All-seater stadia are the best means to ensure the safety and security of fans and have been a contributing factor to the increased diversity of those attending matches in recent years. "The Government appreciates that there are some supporters who would like to see the return of standing areas at football stadia, but do not believe that a compelling case has been made to change the policy." Premier League spokesman Johnson added: "They [all-seater stadiums] have led to more women and more children attending the games and no matter how safe standing can be made, seating is always safer. "We will not be encouraging the Government to change the law." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaylorJ_01 Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Premier league in 'er.............naaaaaaaaaah' shocker. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 "no matter how safe standing can be made, seating is always safer." Well yes, but strapping everyone in or having individual supporter pods would be even safer than seating, that's not really the point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 do it like the Germans do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 "no matter how safe standing can be made, seating is always safer." Well yes, but strapping everyone in or having individual supporter pods would be even safer than seating, that's not really the point. It's even safer to not bother going to the game at all! Stick that in your pipe Mr Johnson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 It will never be brought back, sadly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Swift Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Although I'm for standing in general, I think there might be some merit to the increased diversity of supporters because football is now seen less as a white working class man's game. Saying that, I'm not sure whether it's because hooliganism has been completely eliminated or whether that's due to seats just being seen as safe for women and children. I'd guess that it's more the elimination of terrace and supporter violence, but it's so intrinsically linked to standing areas because of hillsborough and heysel. It'll take time for standing areas to be seen as safe again, probably when the generation of authorities that were there or who arrived right after hillsborough retires. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmk Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Bunch of cunts that run the uk with no other interest than themselves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1878 Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Sports minister Hugh Robertson said he would examine the evidence for safe standing but played down any likelihood of a change to the law. Referring to the prospect of an accident or crowd trouble if terraces were reintroduced, Robertson told the meeting: "The minister's head would be on a spike on Tower Bridge before he could draft a resignation letter." That kind of self-interest is why it will never come back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 It'll never happen for a few reasons; * Would lead to a reduction in revenue * Would be seen as a backwards step because for the FA and the PL it's all about middle-class and corporate 'fans'. It's no longer a working man's game, sadly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colos Curls Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Considering away fans just smash and rip seats out on awaydays it would probably save everyone a few quid what's the problem considering a contingent of every clubs fans go against club and league rules and stand at every game?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooBoo Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Was never going to happen, being realistic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
midds Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Massive Health & Safety issues and possible legal issues if anything were to happen. Won't happen. Ever. Move along. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 Don't see the problem if they just exclude Liverpool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattypnufc Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 http://www.fsf.org.uk/news/safestanding.php Sign it. Fucking daft not advocating the idea of allocated standing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 It'll never happen for a few reasons; * Would lead to a reduction in revenue * Would be seen as a backwards step because for the FA and the PL it's all about middle-class and corporate 'fans'. It's no longer a working man's game, sadly. this, exactly. talk of 'diversity' is a smoke screen. they're going on like they're bothered about everyone getting together to enjoy a game of football no matter what their background. what they're really bothered about is that the grounds remain respectable and not too intimidating to keep attracting the rich. is a modern football crowd REALLY that diverse? i dont think so. bring in standing for those that want it, those that dont can sit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattypnufc Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 It'll never happen for a few reasons; * Would lead to a reduction in revenue * Would be seen as a backwards step because for the FA and the PL it's all about middle-class and corporate 'fans'. It's no longer a working man's game, sadly. this, exactly. talk of 'diversity' is a smoke screen. they're going on like they're bothered about everyone getting together to enjoy a game of football no matter what their background. what they're really bothered about is that the grounds remain respectable and not too intimidating to keep attracting the rich. is a modern football crowd REALLY that diverse? i dont think so. bring in standing for those that want it, those that dont can sit. Egg 'fucking' zactly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggs Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 The Bin Dippers will be bombarding the P.L and Government playing the sympathy card in all this no doubt blaming everyone but themselves (respect to those effected by both tragedys) saying we cannot return to those dark days but the Germans have shown it can and does work but no we bury our heads in the sand imho. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brazilianbob Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 This isn't solely about the EPL having objections to standing, its Sky. If standing is allowed the capacity of a ground will generally increase so when sky televise a game they will have to pay more to the club for lost gate revenue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pav Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Massive Health & Safety issues and possible legal issues if anything were to happen. Er, nope. Care to back any of that up? You can't. You're not to fault though, given that this story has been reported in the wrong light by various media sources. Just look at the title of this thread. Nobody is calling for a 'return of terraces' so that makes this argument pointless. The bill to introduce standing as well as the FSF are showcasing the safe standing model from Germany, in specific the one that allocates everyone a seat and has a railing. How the media has confused this with terracing only goes to show their complete ignorance on the subject. This is safer than all seater stadiums. Why? Because you actually have a barrier infront of you preventing falls. Claims are made that currently people standing infront of seats is unsafe. So why, when this proven method is available, are these people left as 'safety risks' and not offered a safe choice? Don't say they shouldn't stand in the first place, that won't stick. If thousands of people are stood at every game that takes place on the weekend then doesn't that tell you something? Fans want it, it can be done safely, and the bottom line is, safe standing or not, people can and will continue to stand at football. Let's give these people a safe choice, which works out perfectly for everyone. You can find out more about the safe standing model here. The FSF are going to take an example of safe standing to football clubs all over the country to showcase this model and dispell this myth of 'terracing' being brought back. Lastly here's an article from the Guardian that's actually balanced and knows what it's talking about: click. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Care to back any of that up? You can't. Give him a chance Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 The immediate problem I see with that model is that the seats are pointless. Unless you're in the front row, anybody who wants to sit won't be able to see a fucking thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 The immediate problem I see with that model is that the seats are pointless. Unless you're in the front row, anybody who wants to sit won't be able to see a fucking thing. put the standing sections in the back rows? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 There are far too many reasons why this will never happen. What the fans think is rock bottom of the priority list. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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