Row over stadium standing
THE UK’S football policing chief has come in for criticism after claiming that the imminent introduction of safe standing to stadiums is the result of a “headlong rush”.
Chief constable Mark Roberts (below) suggested that the changes could lead to dangerous overcrowding, the creation of no-go areas on the terraces, and make it more difficult to identify fans engaging in racist behaviour.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Cardiff and Chelsea will permit standing in designated railseating areas from January 1.
Further clubs are expected to follow next season, a move Peter Daykin, the Football Supporters’ Association’s standing campaign lead, welcomes. He told People Sport: “Unless your views are 30 years behind everybody else’s three decades of campaigning, evidence gathering and discussion with stakeholders hardly amounts to a ‘headlong rush’ into safe standing.
“Mr Roberts is an isolated voice in this debate – fans, leagues, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and the government all believe standing can be managed perfectly safely within football grounds.
“Fans only ever wanted choice in how they watch football and thanks to their efforts, finally, they will soon have that choice.”
Sports Ground Safety Authority chief executive Martyn
Henderson echoed those sentiments.
He told People Sport: “I think this has been the model of good practice in terms of making what is a historic change.
“We carried out a year-long research project over the 19-20 season and it was only after that the government made a manifesto commitment.
“So I think the suggestion that this is a headlong rush to deliver that commitment is not right.
“We know that crowd behaviour can be challenging and it’s obviously really important that those perspectives are taken into account.”