FFC Survey: Safe Standing

Over the last 5 years we have been asking fans what they think of the "Safe Standing" campaign run by fans championing the return of terracing to football stadiums - not the large, old-style open terraces of yester-year but small, specially-designed areas utilising the latest engineering technology - similar to systems currently used for domestic games in Germany where areas can be used for either seating or standing.

This is an example of how a "safe standing" area might look based on the German model. The area of the stadia is set up for standing, when designated a seating area (e.g. for non German domestic games) the bars are removed and the seats fold down:

A recent development for the campaign is that Mike Hancock MP has proposed an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for a Parliamentary debate on Standing Areas at Football Grounds.
"That this House urges the Government to re-examine the case for introducing small, limited sections of safe standing areas at football grounds; further urges the Government to recognise that there is widespread support for such areas, and that improvements in stadium design and technology mean that with rigorous safety specifications standing areas could be safely re-introduced; and calls on the Minister concerned to convene a meeting of representatives of the police, supporters, Premier League clubs and the Football Licensing Authority to find a way forward."

This has now been signed by 125 MPs from Labour, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Plaid Cymru. You can find more details here and can contact your MP urging them to support your view on Safe Standing via the Write to Them website:

We are updating the FFC report on Standing at Football, it is a subject FFC members feel strongly about so please spend a couple of minutes to give us your opinion.

Below are arguments that have been put forward for and against Safe-Standing over the years.

PROS:

• Technology advances mean 'terracing' can now be designed to reach higher safety specifications than in the past, avoiding overcrowding and allowing clubs to allocate specific spots to fans which would overcome issues such as identifying trouble makers within a crowd.
• It's about freedom of choice. No-one will be forced to stand but neither should people be refused the option to do so
• Simply banning standing is not addressing the issue realistically. Its far safer to stand in purpose-built Safe-Standing areas than to stand in seated areas and this would remove tension between those who stand and those who wish to sit but whose view is often obstructed by standers.
• Standing is part of football's heritage, it improves the atmosphere in a ground as well as increasing crowd capacity
• Safe-Standing areas have been operational in Germany (who defeated England for the 2006 world cup bid using these very stadia) for many years and have been a massive success
  

"Safe-Standing is about freedom of choice. Every week tens of thousands of people stand at rugby, horse-racing and pop concerts." Roger Godsiff; MP

"I was never convinced, regarding the smaller clubs in particular, that the removal of all standing was necessary and I was pleased when this was relaxed following representations by MPs, fans and clubs. While safety must always be the ultimate criterion, there is no reason to ignore technological improvements made since Taylor reported, which might allow for Safe-Standing."
Tony Blair MP; (pre 1997 General Election)

CONS:

• Clubs would have to spend money investing in the new facilities
• Some fans may have to be re-allocated to a different section of the ground to suite their preference for standing or sitting
• If building work could not be completed in the close season there may be some some sections of the ground that are closed during parts of a season.

"..it is doubtful that existing UK stadia could be converted to accommodate German practises without compromising safety standards...the Government had concluded that safety must remain the primary consideration, and remains convinced that the current arrangements are the best." From FLA Report to DCMS

"Terracing is not inherently unsafe, if it was then half the grounds in the Football League would have been closed down by now. But the advice we receive from safety experts suggest a terrace designed to the highest safety standards is not as safe as seating and we have the safest and best grounds in Europe designed to the highest technical standards. In addition there are a huge number of practical and cost issues to overcome." Phil French, Premier League Spokesperson

Have Your Say: Safe Standing Survey