The FSF believes that football supporters should have the choice to stand in a Safe Standing area, if they so wish. Stadiums would retain seated accommodation for those who wished to sit. It is clear that many supporters have a strong desire to stand.
If you agree, sign the FSF's petition here.
Every week, thousands of people stand in front of their seats for the duration of the game. Attempts to remove this practice have largely failed. As a result, many who would like to sit down find their view blocked and are forced to stand. The FSF campaign for Safe Standing is as much about protecting the freedoms of those who wish to sit as those who wish to stand. By segregating the two groups, everyone benefits. This is why polls have consistently shown a clear majority supporting the choice to stand, even among those who prefer to sit.
We regularly hear stories about people being ejected for 
persistent standing in seated areas, a practice that can create public order problems. By providing a Safe Standing area for supporters who wish to stand, the problem largely goes away.
In England and Wales, standing is permitted at rugby union and rugby league venues, at speedway, horse-racing and rock/pop concerts within football stadiums. It is allowed at football grounds outside the top two divisions, subject to the stringent standards laid down in the Government’s Green Guide. The FSF is not proposing to abolish or weaken these standards.
We are not suggesting that the government should force clubs in the top divisions to provide Safe Standing areas - only that they should be able to do so. Issues around cost and feasibility should be a matter for individual clubs, not for government.
The legislation around standing derives from the Football Spectators Act, under which the Secretary of State has the power to insist that certain grounds are all-seated. Initially, all Football League stadia were to be included; this was amended to include just the top two divisions. A similar amendment to allow standing in the Premiership and Championship would likewise not need a new Act of Parliament.
In August 2010, Morecambe FC will move into a new stadium that includes safe standing areas. If they are subsequently promoted to the Championship, they would be forced to seat the whole stadium. The idea that the safety of a ground depends on the quality of football played on the pitch is absurd. The ban on standing areas in the Premiership and Championship is an anomaly that the FSF would like to see removed.
Safe Standing is permitted at domestic matches in many European countries. Some of Europe’s most modern stadia, such as the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (used during the 2006 World Cup) and the Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria (used during Euro 2008), feature standing accommodation for domestic fixtures.
UEFA regulations state that European competitions must be played in all-seated stadiums. In modern stadia such as the Veltins Arena and Tivoli Stadium, standing areas are easily convertible to and from seating, so this is not an obstacle to clubs providing standing accommodation for domestic matches. In both England and abroad, ticket prices for standing areas are typically lower than in seated areas, making the stadiums more socially inclusive.
145 MP’s signed an Early Day Motion (EDM 101) calling for a reopening of the debate on Safe Standing. This includes MPs from across the political spectrum, namely the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru, Democratic Unionist and Social Democratic Parties. We were further delighted when support for Safe Standing became official party policy of the Liberal Democrats, following a debate at the 2008 party conference.
The Safe Standing campaign encompasses many different areas, both in terms of club specific issues and national ones. If you have any ideas, or are able to assist, please get in touch. The FSF can provide support in getting local campaigns up and running, be it through the provision of materials (banners, leaflets, publicity, etc) or general advice on Safe Standing related matters.
FSF members are also in the process of writing a number of detailed information sheets on different aspects of Safe Standing. Read them below:
If you would like to get involved email Peter Daykin who is leading the FSF's Safe Standing campaign.
