Don Foster, MP for Bath, has welcomed the announcement that football clubs in the top divisions will be allowed to introduce safe standing areas into their grounds.
The announcement comes under manifesto plans unveiled by the Liberal Democrats.
A long standing supporter of Safe Standing areas, Don Foster put forward a Private Member’s Bill in 2010.
If passed the Safe Standing (Football Stadia) Bill 2010-12 would have given all football clubs the freedom to build, or maintain existing, safe standing areas if they had chosen, it would also have established minimum safety criteria that would apply to all of these areas.
Commenting, Don Foster said: “I have long believed that football clubs should be allowed to introduce safe standing areas where there is a desire to do so. Safe standing is allowed in many other sports and I do not believe that the top level of football should be an exception.”
Safe standing already operates in domestic leagues across Europe, including Germany, Austria and Sweden and is backed by 92% of football fans and 70% of football clubs in the UK.
Commenting further, Don Foster said: “I am a strong believer that when clubs and fans are in favour of safe standing and it can be done safely, then the Government shouldn’t get in the way. That is why Liberal Democrats want to change the law to let clubs introduce safe standing.”
“Safe standing offers supporters more choice, a better atmosphere and cheaper tickets. I firmly believe that this is an idea whose time has come and I am proud that it is the Liberal Democrats who are the first political party to commit to delivering this.”
Under the plans clubs would be allowed to work with their supporters to introduce standing areas, which provide better atmospheres and allow clubs to offer cheaper safe standing season tickets.
