Government to discuss safe standing 25th June (page 4)

[Silvas' left eyebrow]

If fans blanked a full weekend of fixtures the business the clubs themselves would push for a review. Money talks.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Is your MP attending ?

I certainly hope not.

He should be doing important work.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

If fans blanked a full weekend of fixtures the business the clubs themselves would push for a review. Money talks.

110,000 signatures received shared between the premier league clubs shows about 5100 fans per club are bothered.

Blank the fixtures indeed!

LOL!

 

[Silvas' left eyebrow]

110,000 signatures received shared between the premier league clubs shows about 5100 fans per club are bothered.

Blank the fixtures indeed!

LOL!

A flat earthed I like that LOL

 

[yerwot?]

MP's can agree to safe standing, or, by refusing they are endorsing unsafe standing which is the reality of what happens at every ground in the prem. All-seater stadia was the wrong answer to the wrong problem. FFS

 

[cleavers]

Can't wait for about 20 MPs to debate this in parliament, only for absolutely nothing to come of it.

I suspect many more will turn up, there will be many MP's who are football fans that attend games, they will have an interest in it.

Getting it debated is a first step, nobody thought the "20's plenty" campaign would work, but it did, and for 3 years now away fans have only paid £30.

Fans can make a difference, thanks to all that supported this petition, its made a difference, we need to keep it up, the clubs seem to back it.

 

[cleavers]

If fans blanked a full weekend of fixtures the business the clubs themselves would push for a review. Money talks.

Correct, and the FSF should look to do something like this, the first game of next season would be good, maybe all away fans don't attend.

 

[Silvas' left eyebrow]

Correct, and the FSF should look to do something like this, the first game of next season would be good, maybe all away fans don't attend.

Actually a good idea.

Our learned friends in Westminster must surely see the absurdity of the fact that if the ball is changed to a oval /egg shape it suddenly becomes safe to stand ! MADNESS

 

[cleavers]

Our learned friends in Westminster must surely see the absurdity of the fact that if the ball is changed to a oval /egg shape it suddenly becomes safe to stand

....and drink.

 

[Stockton Heath Blue]

I have just emailed to my MP expressing my opinion and telling him how out of touch the sports minister is. I have also asked him to attend the debate and ask for Tracey Crouch to name one club against safe-standing.

Don't forget to include your name and address in any emails and then they are treated the same as a written letter.

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Dear Mr Khan,



as you may be aware, the issue and possible implementation of Safe-standing (rail seating) is to be debated in Parliament on 25th June 2018 after the petition, "Allow Premier League and Championship clubs to introduce safe standing" reached over 100,000 signatures and is currently at nearly 111,000 and counting.



Sports minister Tracey Crouch recently said that it was only a "vocal minority" who wanted Safe-standing and that "there is no desire amongst the top clubs to change", thus displaying her ignorance and unfortunately the now familiar parliamentary disdain towards football supporters that has existed for decades. What she said bears no resemblance to the actual situation. As a Manchester City supporter who regularly attends games I can say that from my experience the vast majority of my fellow supporters would welcome the introduction of Safe-standing areas. Many of my friends and work colleagues who are Manchester United supporters are of the same opinion. The Liverpool supporters trust recently voted 88% in favour of the introduction of Safe-standing.



For the sports minister to say "there is no desire amongst the top clubs to change", beggars belief. Presumably she isn't aware that Richard Arnold, the managing director of Manchester United, had confirmed he was "applying constant encouragement" for Safe-standing at Old Trafford, that Arsenal want the same at the Emirates stadium, that Manchester City are equally as keen and, crucially, Liverpool have said they will listen to the views of their fans, whose supporters trust as previously mentioned have voted 88% in favour of implementation. Chelsea, Spurs and Everton have incorporated Safe-standing areas in their new stadium plans in the hope it can be implemented. West Brom have just had a formal request to fit rail-seating knocked back. Brighton, Burnley, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield, Swansea and Watford have all publicly backed Safe-standing. Newcastle have been to see the highly successful trial at Celtic Park and Bournemouth are said to be open minded. As you can see, Tracey Crouch could not be more wrong in her assertion. As for the Football League it could not be more clear cut. The League was given a mandate in 2013 by all of its 72 clubs to pursue Safe-standing and its stated policy is that its supporters should be given the choice of whether to stand or not.



The current situation sees many football fans standing in front of rows of tipped up plastic seats in an unsafe way and I have seen several falls and injuries. The Football Safety Officers Association is asking why "the Government is choosing to ignore what may prove to be a safer alternative".



Finally, I would ask that you attend this debate to represent what I believe to be a large majority of Manchester football fans in favour or Safe-standing. Also I would like you to ask Tracey Crouch to name one club from the Premier League or Football League who is actively against Safe-standing when, by my reckoning, it is possibly 92-0 in favour. Could you also ask how on earth is it that something that is acclaimed throughout the sport as a huge success in Glasgow can be illegal 120 miles south-east in Newcastle.





Yours Faithfully,


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Much of that is plagiarised from different sources but will hopefully get the idea across to him.

Cut and pasted into an email to my local MP. Thanks.

Response from my local MP: -

"Thank you for contacting me recently about safe standing at English Premier League and Championship football grounds.

I agree that this is an important issue. Indeed, I note that over 100,000 people have signed the petition on the UK Government and Parliament petitions website calling for English Premier League and Championship clubs to be allowed to introduce safe standing. This issue will therefore be considered for a debate in Parliament.

I know that the Football Supporters' Federation has long campaigned on this issue and that surveys carried out by supporters' trusts at a number of clubs have shown high levels of support for safe standing. At the same time, I note organisations representing the families of victims of the Hillsborough disaster, which was the catalyst for the law requiring all-seater stadiums, are divided on the issue.

The Government states that it believes that all-seater stadiums are the best means to ensure the safety and security of spectators at football grounds in England and Wales. It argues that all-seater stadiums have helped improve crowd management, crowd behaviour and policing. It has said it will monitor developments at Celtic and Shrewsbury Town FC, where safe standing areas have been introduced.

I believe it is important that the Government gives proper consideration to this issue. At the June 2017 general election, I stood on a manifesto that called for sport to be run in the interests of those who participate in it and love it, and pledged to give football supporters a greater say in how their clubs are run. I have also committed to reviewing the role of fans in sport governance more widely. I can therefore assure you that I will take your views into account as I continue to monitor this issue."

Faisal Rashid

The 1st few paragraphs are BS and just repeat what I already stated in my email to him. No pledge to take on Tracey Crouch re her views/comments. Prompt response but doesn't really promise anything. I live in Warrington, which has its fair share of City, Rags and blue & red Dippers, so not really enthused that our MP will do much to follow this up.