More than half of English Premier League football clubs have said that they would consider incorporating safe standing on a trial basis.
It was reported by the Sportsmail that the league wrote to all 20 of its sides to see if they would be interested in piloting the safe standing at matches.
The majority have confirmed that safe standing is something they would be interested in, while clubs such as Liverpool are still opposed to the idea.
The concept was outlawed in the top two divisions of English football following the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.
The Hillsborough Family Support Group continues to influence the Anfield club’s position on the matter.
The other Merseyside club, Everton, is said to be treating it as a hypothetical option, although a poll showed 90 per cent of its supporters are in favour of safe standing at its new stadium.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City are in favour of the trial, with United previously supporting the concept of safe standing at Old Trafford at a fans’ forum. City has said it would be open to safe standing “in the right circumstances”.
With major support from the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, the London club has disclosed its willingness to welcome safe standing trials.
In January, the AST called on the supporters of the Premier League to complete an online survey, as well as holding discussions with the Premier League.
A Tottenham Hotspur spokesperson said: “We have consistently said that we would be open to investigating the opportunity to incorporate safe standing within our new stadium should legislation and licencing permit this.”
Chelsea, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace have all supported the safe standing initiative.
Swansea is open to the idea, however it would need permission from the local authority as its stadium is council-owned. Burnley would be in favour of a trial if legislation changed.
The safe standing trial option is the latest development following initial talks between the Premier League and clubs in November.
The league is carrying out a wide-ranging feasibility study of which the survey is part. They will examine whether a change in the law would be needed to allow the introduction of safe standing and will liaise with fan groups, police forces and other interested parties.
In February, the UK government said it “remained unconvinced” by the case to reintroduce safe standing to Premier League and Championship football grounds in England.
Image: Joe Darch
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