Premier League and Championship clubs to trial safe standing for first time in 25 years
The grounds could see standing fans from 1st January
From January 1st clubs in the top two divisions of English football will be able to offer a standing option for fan for the first time since 1994, due to a pilot programme from The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA).
The pilot will include any of the clubs who have been in either the Premier League or Championship divisions for three or more seasons since 1994/95, plus Wembley Stadium and the Principality Stadium.
Clubs have until 6 October to submit an application to the SGSA, but they must first meet a range of criteria to gain approval.
These include having the necessary infrastructure in both home and away areas of their stadium, allowing fans to sit or stand in the standing areas with the seats not locked in the 'up' or 'down' position, ensuring the areas do not impact on the view for other fans, including those with disabilities, providing a code of conduct for standing fans and consulting with the relevant Safety Advisory Group.
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves are among the top-flight clubs to have installed rail seating at their grounds.
Spurs and Manchester City are understood to be keen to be part of the pilot, and Liverpool said in June they were keen to trial temporary rail seating and then review it at the end of the campaign.
The Football Supporters' Association, which has campaigned in favour of safe standing for more than 30 years, described it as a "huge day" for match-going fans.
SGSA chief executive Martyn Henderson said: "The focus of the SGSA is the safety and enjoyment of all fans at sports grounds. We know many fans want the choice to stand and, with the advent of new engineering solutions, our research has shown how this can be managed safely."
The introduction of designated safe standing areas would mean an end to the ban on standing in the top two divisions of English football, which has been in place for over 25 years.
Since 1994, first and second-tier grounds in England and Wales have been required to be all-seaters by law, following legislation passed in the wake of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.
Margaret Aspinall, whose son James died in the Hillsborough disaster and is the former chair of the disbanded Hillsborough Family Support Group, gave the news a cautious welcome.
"My opinion has completely changed from what it was a few years ago," she said.
"Safety is paramount, and I hope lessons have been learned. Fans will not be treated, and are not being treated now, like they were in the 1970s and 1980s, herded like cattle.
"We have got to take this slowly - there is no quick fix and we have got to make sure it's definitely going to be safe and see how it progresses."
The Conservatives promised to work towards the introduction of safe standing areas in their 2019 general election manifesto and, if the initial trials prove successful, legislation could be introduced for all stadiums in England's top two divisions within the next few years.