Fans want safe standing – survey

According to a new survey 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.

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.”

Thanks to Alexander Ridler for the image used in this article, reproduced here under CC license.