The UK Parliament has confirmed it will stage an official debate on the possible introduction of safe standing at stadia in football’s English Premier League on June 25.
Safe standing has become something of a hot topic in recent months, with more than 110,000 fans signing a petition for the government to consider allowing clubs in the top tier to add these areas to their stadia.
Standing in the top two division of English football was outlawed by the Football Spectator’s Act in 1989, following recommendations by the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster where 96b Liverpool fans lost their lives.
However, UK laws state that should an official petition reach 100,000 signatures or more, the issue or subject must be discussed in Parliament.
Last month, Premier League team West Bromwich Albion failed in an effort to add a safe standing section to its Hawthorns home with Sports Minister Tracey Crouch a the time saying there were no current plans to change the laws.
Since the West Brom bid, support has grown for safe standing, with a number of clubs having voiced their backing for the proposed initiative.
Last week, Wolverhampton Wanderers, which recently won promotion back to the Premier League, openly declared its support for safe standing, while League One third-tier club Shrewsbury Town recently took delivery of new rail seating that will form part of a safe standing section of its stadium.
Image: Jon Darch
