Parliament to discuss possible return of standing

THE ENGLISH Football League want to see an end to legislation banning standing in English football’s top two divisions within the next 12 months and will push for decisions on standing areas in individual grounds to be made at local level.

The governing body have compiled a series of recommendations aimed at changing the existing law ahead of a Government debate on the issue to take place in Westminster Hall on Monday.

Parliament will discuss potential changes to the statute after an online petition calling for the return of standing in toplevel stadiums attracted more than 100,000 signatures.

The petition drew support following Sports Minister Tracey Crouch’s decision to reject an application by West Bromwich Albion to re-introduce standing at The Hawthorns in April. Standing areas have been prohibited in Premier League and Championship venues since the mid-1990s, owing to a new law passed in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

A campaign to bring back standing sections has been gaining momentum, and public pressure led the Government to announce a review of the current policy earlier this month. Crouch is due to address next week’s Westminster debate.

A recent survey carried out by the EFL, which received over 33,000 responses, found that 94 per cent of those who took part were in favour of having the choice between sitting and standing at matches.

Twenty two of the EFL’s 72 clubs already have standing areas at their stadiums, including Burton Albion who were relegated from the Championship last month.

The EFL’s plan would involve limiting individual standing areas to a maximum capacity of 7,500 and placing responsibility for a decision over whether to permit standing on local authorities and safety advisory groups.

Shaun Harvey, the EFL’s chief executive, said: “To try and shoehorn everyone into a one-sizefits-all debate will never lead to the best decisions being made up and down the country. Local safety advisory groups and the clubs know their stadiums far better than anyone else and will be able to make informed, correct decisions.

Leeds United, like most Championship sides, have made no public comment on their stance, but the club allowed the Leeds United Supporters Trust to stage a safe-standing roadshow at Elland Road last month. The event allowed those attending to use rail seating similar to that installed by Celtic in 2016.