Safe standing survey report published, 97% in favour

[Al-Calo]

The report can be found here - http://yourvoiceintheassembly.co.uk/wp- ... ERSION.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And here's FSF's summary - http://fsf.org.uk/latest-news/view/safe ... ch-swansea" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

According to a new survey to published at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea today, the overwhelming majority of football fans - 96 per cent - support safe standing.

The report, published today by the Welsh Conservatives , found that football fans surveyed back the introduction of designated standing areas at football grounds. Andrew RT Davies, author of the report, is now calling for a safe standing pilot in Wales.

Davies said: "This campaign boils down to two issues: the right for football fans to be treated the same as other sports fans, and the opportunity to trial an advance in safety methods which is well established on the continent.

"Legislation governing standing was drafted in a different era, to address a different set of problems and it’s time for politicians to move on and give the people what they want.”

The FSF attended the launch of the survey, along with Swansea City Chairman Huw Jenkins and the chairs of Swansea, Cardiff and Newport County Supporters Trust.

Some highlights from the 2,364 people surveyed include:

- 96% back a safe standing pilot to trial modern stadium technology.
- 84% believe that safe standing areas would decrease the likelihood of conflict between stewards and fans.
- 97% feel that modern stadium technology can make standing areas at football grounds safe.
[- 97% support having the choice to stand or sit.]

The National Assembly in Wales is the first UK legislature to adopt a pro-standing position, recently passing a motion backing a pilot, and Davies is calling on the UK Government to legislate for a limited pilot early in the next Parliament.

Tim Hartley, Chair of Cardiff City Supporters Trust, added: “We believe that clubs ought to have the freedom to offer fans the choice to stand safely in appropriately designed areas and we look forward to seeing the next Government carry this forward.”

[Heisen]

Whilst I'm in favour of reintroducing safe standing, that is nowhere near a big enough sample size for the FA to pay any attention.

[overseasTOON]

96% want to stand

96 died in Hillsborough.

[krully]

96% want to stand

96 died in Hillsborough.

tinfoil hats on guys.

[Holystone...]

What's that saying the many pay the price of a few? Never truer than events 25 years ago. Very sad day but hardly indicative of matches week in week out since. Bit like saying police horses should be banned because people might punch them.

[Smudger]

The Hillsborough/Liverpool group seem to be stopping any progression on this issue. Sad as that day was, the whole point is that it's a safe version of that. Ssafe standing should absolutely be implemented, most atmospheres are tragic and it'd only be a section so no one would be forced to use it who wanted to sit.

[Colly]

For me it comes down to the fact that of all the factors involved in Hillsborough (horrible stewarding, poor directions, forcing everyone through one entrance etc) fundamentally it wasn't the fact that they were standing that killed 96 people, and none of the legal case has argued otherwise. Seating wouldn't have done an awful lot if it was unallocated and all those fans were still herded into the same area again.

[Holystone...]

Unsure what the end game is with the Hillsborough inquest etc. Campaigners are presumably fighting to clear fans of all blame. I'm assuming if a single body (e.g. S. Yorks Police) can be blamed then the compensation claims will flood in.

[garyedwards]

Celtic have now been granted a section for Safe Standing in from 2016.


It's just a few stadiums with standing left in the FL:

[Chappy]

I'm not arsed either way, makes no difference to me.

[Colly]

Fantastic. Matter of time before it hits the Premier League, standing in the Gallowgate lower would do wonders for our atmosphere.

[Goat]

There should be absolutely no issue with this at all.

You have metal f***ing barriers separating people into single file lines. It's physically impossible for there to be a crush or any sort of safety issue.

I don't get why it's even being questioned.

[Remember Colo]

At BMO Field here all of the supporters sections are standing areas, and although everyone has an assigned seat, the seats are simply narrower and shorter. It's a simple solution, and there's no way for those past tragedies to happen. I'm kinda shocked that this is such a hurdle there. Although yes, I do recognize how influential the opposition are still.

[bodacious benny]

Unsure what the end game is with the Hillsborough inquest etc. Campaigners are presumably fighting to clear fans of all blame. I'm assuming if a single body (e.g. S. Yorks Police) can be blamed then the compensation claims will flood in.

Surely they can see that some fans did play a part in the tragedy.

Safe standing should absolutely be introduced. There is no sound reason not to do it whatever angle you look at it from.

[Matthieu]

What I don't understand is that those against it make it seem like "ooh we can't take the risk of another disaster!$@" as if it's some sort of fearsome risky untested unknown. There are terraces all over the world for f***s sake, including in England.

[el héroe]

I would of thought with the over strict health and safety laws of this country it will be a no no... even padded barriers wouldn't help.
Don't get me wrong I am all for safe standing, as has been said the atmosphere is huge (and you don't have to go far for a piss) But the powers that be will 'leave it to the next lot we're not getting blamed'

[Remember Colo]

What I don't understand is that those against it make it seem like "ooh we can't take the risk of another disaster!$@" as if it's some sort of fearsome risky untested unknown. There are terraces all over the world for f***s sake, including in England.

I think it's also safe to say that the entire supporter culture in England has changed from how it was then, and you don't find the kind of stadium chaos there once was...of course I probably wouldn't have predicted horse punching just a couple years ago

[overseasTOON]

There should be absolutely no issue with this at all.

You have metal f***ing barriers separating people into single file lines. It's physically impossible for there to be a crush or any sort of safety issue.

I don't get why it's even being questioned.

You do get metal fatigue, especially with welded joints and of course you do have shoddy workmanship but yeah, impossible to have a safety issue.

[Holystone...]

Funny how people love chanting when standing but not sitting.

[Colly]

Just look at Westlife, have to get off the stool for a chorus.