Posted on 23rd November 2012
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
For the fifth Friday in a row we’re delighted to announce that another club has backed the Football Supporters’ Federation’s Safe Standing Campaign – welcome aboard Cardiff City. They join an ever-growing list which includes Aston Villa, Brentford, Bristol City, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Peterborough United, Watford, AFC Wimbledon and the Scottish Premier League.
While acknowledging that they are currently “duty bound to enforce a no persistent standing policy in all areas of the ground” in accordance with Football League ground regulations the club called for small-scale safe standing trials and said they “regret” the Government’s current opposition to safe standing.
In a statement released today the club said: “Cardiff City Football Club regrets the Government’s stance in refusing to further investigate the possibility of safe standing at football matches. We continue to believe that the debate on safety has not been evidenced by empirical data or reports in practice.
“As such, it is the Club’s opinion that any standing should be dynamically risk assessed in conjunction with the local authority with subsequent recommendations and control measures put in place to ensure reasonable safety. To that end the Club supports the call on the Government to permit a limited number of small-scale safe standing trials.”
Cardiff City are the 14th club in England and Wales to back the FSF’s Safe Standing Campaign and the club’s statement was welcomed by Tim Hartley, chair of the Cardiff City Supporters Trust Chair. The fans’ group had made clear its backing for safe standing trials.
Hartley said: “Cardiff City has a sensible approach when dealing with fans who stand at crucial times during games. Some of our members would like to stand throughout the match and others do not. So we are glad that Cardiff has responded positively to the Trust’s request to back a pilot for safe standing in football. 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 Government carry this forward.”
Safety expert: Case for safe standing is “irrefutable”
Safe standing is now backed by a huge array of individuals and institutions from across the football world. Safety is of course paramount and the campaign has the support of experts in this field including Professor Steve Frosdick, founder member of the UK Football Safety Officers’ Association (FSOA).
In June 2011 Frosdick spoke at a specially arranged FSF event in Liverpool and his view is clear. Frosdick said: “I think they’ve [the FSF] got an irrefutable case to allow clubs and fans the choice of having rail seating.
“I have spent the whole of my professional life working to make football grounds safer places for football fans to enjoy their sport, and I would never associate myself with anything that would be to the detriment of the safety and welfare of football supporters.”
Frosdick’s position is backed by current FSOA president Jim Chalmers who believes “there is no reason why safe standing cannot exist in our top two divisions if there is a will to allow this at government level”. Sunderland’s safety manager Paul Weir is also on record as saying he’d be happy to manage fans at the Stadium of Light in safe standing areas.
The FSF’s Safe Standing Campaign also has political support. The cornerstone of the activity is Early Day Motion (EDM) 573, submitted by Roger Godsiff MP, which acknowledges the “widespread support” for safe standing technology and recognises the success of safe standing areas throughout Europe, including in Germany’s Bundesliga.
The EDM “urges the Government to accept the case for introducing, on a trial basis, limited standing areas.” If accepted it means the introduction of safe standing would not require a complex and time-consuming change to primary legislation.
This is all great news but the FSF also needs action as words are not enough. MPs are elected to represent our views and match-going fans know that the case for safe standing is irrefutable. It’s popular, safe and gives fans a choice.
Join the FSF for free today from this link.
The Football Supporters’ Federation on Facebook.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) was contacted last night by the Sports Ground Safety Association (SGSA), who told us that the option for football clubs to offer licensed standing at all levels of the game in England and Wales has at last been passed into official Government policy.
In a first at a UK general election, all three of the main political parties have outlined support for standing at the match in their manifestos.
Fans of Cardiff City have criticised South Wales Police for utilising facial recognition technology without prior consultation at their game against Swansea City.
Following on from months of work with fan reps across the EFL, the FSA is pleased to launch #TerraceTalk – a supporter-led mental health initiative.
