Stand up if you love the Toon

MINISTERS are under pressure to allow football clubs to introduce safe standing areas at their grounds.

Liberal Democrats say it’s time for standing areas to be brought back.

The areas have been introduced by clubs in Scotland, where seats are raised and locked into place, providing space to stand behind a waist-high rail.

The Lib Dems say the move allows for teams to offer cheaper tickets and creates a better atmosphere inside stadiums.

But some have been reluctant to back the idea following the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989 in which 96 fans died.

Most Premier League clubs have previously spoken in favour of safe standing areas, which are currently banned by Government regulation.

Now Sunderland Lib Dem councillor Stephen O’Brien, a season ticket holder at the Stadium of Light, believes it is time for the Government to lift the ban.

“It really is about time that football clubs were allowed to introduce safe standing areas - where fans want them to do so - to offer supporters more choice, a better atmosphere and cheaper tickets,” he said.

“It’s not about returning to terraces but introducing the kind of modern ‘rail seating’ which is widely used across Europe and in other sports.

“There’s no reason football clubs can’t operate this safely and successfully.

“I know I’m not alone amongst Sunderland fans in thinking that the time has come for the Government to lift the ban on safe standing.”

Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable has backed the calls, saying the move would provide a better, more affordable experience for football supporters.

“Safe standing is already allowed in many other sports and we do not believe that the top level of football should be an exception,” he said.

“When clubs and fans are in favour of safe standing and it can be done safely, then the Government shouldn’t get in the way.

“That is why Liberal Democrats want to change the law to let clubs introduce safe standing.

“It is an idea already widely adopted in Europe and is now long overdue here.”