Now the FA are backing safe standing at grounds
THE FA has added its voice to those calling on the government to relax the law on all-seater stadiums and let clubs decide whether to offer safe-standing sections or not.
Grounds in England’s top two divisions have had to be all-seater ever since the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, which left 96 Liverpool fans dead following a crush at the start of their FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
This policy has never been wholly welcomed by football fans, though, and calls to overturn the all-seater rule proved impossible to ignore this year after an online petition for a parliamentary debate on the matter attracted more than 110,000 backers.
The debate took place in June and sports minister Tracey Crouch announced a review of the all-seater requirement, which should be completed by the end of the year.
This was a significant step by the minister as she had blocked West Brom’s request for permission to pilot a safestanding section at The Hawthorns in March and in April dismissed campaigners for a change in the law as a ‘vocal minority’.
Crouch has since admitted the latter remark was a mistake - as numerous surveys have proven, most notably ones conducted recently by the English Football League, Premier League and Football Supporters’ Federation and has said her ‘mind is open’ to a change in the law, a stance welcomed by clubs, fans groups and many stadium safety experts.
To that list we can now add the FA, the last of football’s main stakeholders to join the public debate.
An FA spokeswoman said the governing body backed Crouch’s decision to conduct a review “and supports clubs and leagues in having the option to choose whether they wish to provide standing options for supporters should there be clear evidence that satisfies the authorities over safety and security”. YOU can see why Zinedine Zidane would eventually be an attractive prospect for the Glazers as a future United manager.
Firstly, he is a free agent. Secondly, he is a marketing dream. Thirdly, he is not one to grumble.
The Frenchman may have inherited one of the most talented squads in world football at Real Madrid, but he was afforded just two signings of note during his time at the club - Dani Ceballos and Theo Hernandez.
He spent process.
That is music to the Glazers’ ears, but can you seriously imagine Zidane not wanting to sign a centreback or another forward – as Jose Mourinho planned – if he was to eventually succeed the United boss?
Of course, it is important to stress Mourinho has the backing of the Reds board and it is easy to forget we are only three games into the season – and that the United boss was handed a new two-year contract in January.
But just as Mourinho’s shadow haunted Louis van Gaal two-and-ahalf years ago, the spectre of Zidane just £37m in the will loom large. Simply because he is available.
The noises from France are that Zidane would be keen on the United job, but only on the right terms - and you can see why.
Zidane’s legacy is already secure after leading Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles and a La Liga win in just twoand-a-half seasons.
It is going to take something special for him to leave the city of Madrid - let alone mid-season. Zidane, a family man, has lived in the Spanish capital ever since he became the world’s most expensive player in 2001.
Although his wife, Veronique, flew back to France for the birth of all four of their sons, the family still reside in Madrid and are settled there. After insisting he was ‘not looking for another team’ when he stepped down in May, would he really want to return to the front line so soon?
Also, Zidane does not speak English. There are plenty of Spanish and French speakers in the United squad, but speaking the universal language of the players is such an important tool in his arsenal. The 46-year-old has openly admitted he is ‘not the best coach tactically’ but he is a master of man-management in the era of the millennial. Modelling himself on mentor Carlo Ancelotti, Zidane is a calming presence. Take his half-time team talk during the 2017 Champions League final. The Real Madrid boss left his players alone for seven minutes so they could gather their thoughts before delivering some simple words of encouragement. “Keep calm. We will get another goal,” was his prophetic final message. But it would be a disservice to Zidane to say he is a clap-yourhands manager as he has often been portrayed in the Spanish press. There have been huge substitutions which have turned games against Bayern Munich and PSG, and Zidane has not been shy in benching egos in favour of in-form play-