Posted on 9th November 2011
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
One of the world’s leading stadium architects has backed safe standing and stated it can be done “without any problems at all”. John Barrow is senior principal at renowned architects Populous and played a key role in designing Wembley Stadium. The firm also designed stadiums for Euro 2004 as well as Soccer City in Johannesburg which hosted the 2010 World Cup final.
Barrow made the comments while speaking at the International Football Arena conference, an event described by the Financial Times as “an annual conference for the unseen rich men who run football”.
“We as designers have no problem with standing at all. It would clearly need to be legislated for, managed, and safely stewarded, but in terms of safety it can be done without any problems at all in small areas,” said Barrow.
In Germany clubs such as Bayern Munich incorporate “small” safe standing areas of approximately 1,500 people into larger stands. As these individual pockets are repeated across an entire stand this gives the sensation of being a single entity in a larger standing area. This adds to the atmosphere immeasurably and ensures supporter safety.
Barrow: “It has to be properly managed, you need more stewards, and the family areas have to be properly segregated so that families feel secure. You also have to make sure that the spectators behind continue to have an uninterrupted view.”
“It is great to have standing areas. They increase excitement in stadiums, particularly behind the goals. If the legislation is there to allow the top clubs to have standing areas again, it could help the clubs who are looking to expand capacity and allow more young people in.”
Barrow is the latest significant figure to back the introduction of safe standing areas. Back in June Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said he was “open” to the possibility of safe standing areas at the Emirates and acknowledged the positive impact it could have on atmosphere.
In the same month Professor Steve Frosdick, founder member of the UK Football Safety Officers’ Association (FSOA) and noted expert in crowd safety, backed the FSF’s campaign at a specially arranged event in Liverpool. Current FSOA president Jim Chalmers has also said “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”.
The FSF’s Safe Standing Campaign has also received support from the world of politics with Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster submitting a Private Members Bill to the House of Commons calling for the introduction of safe standing areas. Even cabinet secretary Gus O’Donnell, a Manchester United fan and the country’s most senior civil servant, backs safe standing.
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Brentford, QPR and Wolves are the latest clubs to confirm they will have safe standing areas – and more clubs are expected to follow next season as the Government has confirmed that Premier League and Championship clubs can introduce standing during 2022/23.
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.
This week UEFA confirmed that it has approved the use of safe standing in European competitions for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Fan representatives from the men’s and women’s game met with senior FA officials at Wembley earlier this month to discuss a variety of important issues within football.
