EFL and Football Supporters' Federation launch safe standing campaign
Friday 27 April 2018 09:24, UK
The issue of safe standing at football has been given fresh impetus with the announcement of a joint campaign between the EFL and the Football Supporters' Federation called 'Stand up for Choice'.
The purpose of the campaign is to survey fans on the issue of licensed standing areas at stadiums and seek changes to current legislation which imposes restrictions on EFL clubs.
The EFL is hoping 'Stand up for Choice' will provoke an informed debate while highlighting the desire of significant numbers of supporters to choose between standing and sitting at EFL matches.
The issue could be also be discussed in the House of Commons after a petition in favour of safe standing reached over 100,000 signatures earlier this week.
EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey, said: "We understand why the issue of standing at football matches is sensitive.
"The safety of all fans is of paramount importance to everyone, including Government, and they are rightly concerned about any change that could increase the safety risk and then see them accountable for this.
"We recognise that to effect change we will need a partnership approach and this will commence with our survey to demonstrate that those who attend fixtures, want to see the change and be offered a choice, even if they still choose to be seated.
"The EFL would like to see current legislation reviewed by the Government and ultimately amended so that clubs have the opportunity to provide standing accommodation to their supporters at all matches played in the Championship, League One and League Two, should they wish to.
"There are 21 EFL Clubs across our three divisions that currently offer licensed standing areas to supporters and it is unclear to us how such areas would be any less safe if operated on an identical basis at other clubs playing in the same competitions.
"Nor is the logic clear to us why clubs can offer standing in League One and League Two but not to the same fans, in the same stands, at the same grounds after three years of playing in the Championship or above.
"If standing areas are licensed as being safe, they don't become any less safe just because the standard of football being played on the pitch is different."
The UK government said earlier this month there were no plans to change the all-seater policy after West Brom had a safe-standing proposal rejected.
Crystal Palace have urged their fans to sign the petition, while Wolves have expressed an interest in the idea and put Molineux forward to be part of a pilot scheme.
Celtic have successfully introduced a safe standing area in recent years, while League One side Shrewsbury Town will add 'rail seats' to their stadium this summer.
