Safe Standing? Is There Any Such Thing?

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/story/labour-back-safe-standing-at-english-football-league-stadiums-11398307
the all seating law was brought in in 1989 after several disasters. Surely it's madness to regress.

[melv16]

I gather the crowd stand up anyway. In lower division clubs you can still stand.

[youngmafbog]

The terrace was always much better for watching from.

Real atmosphere and I dont mean the fighting.

I really dont think that the terraces were the problem just as the fences came down around the pitch has not resulted in continual pitch invasions as the 70's/80's I dont think a return to the terrace will give rise to more violence.

Of course the bog rolls might start flying again, it's quite an art to get the thing to unravel a decent amount without using something like Izal.

[woofgang]

I saw an article about this in TV....apparently there is now such a thing as safe standing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44414076

[whiskeryron]

NO!

[ludwig]

It'd be a ridiculous idea to go back to old style terracing where everyone's just part of a huge mosh pit with no seats available.

It looks like they're just wanting to put rails at the back of all the seats though so you can stand without getting crushed, and sit down when you get tired.

I wouldn't fancy it. I like to sit with an unobstructed view, whether I'm watching football, a band, or whatever.

[Gromit]

I take it you haven’t been to a football match recently.
People stand up in the seated areas for most of the match. They have done since the ban was introduced.

The ban is universally ignored and is unenforceable.

[ToraToraTora]

yes I have, they stand but the seats prevent mass crowd movements. Surprised you cannot see that gromit.

[Zacs-Master]

I agree Tora. Stupid retrograde step which would end in a crushing tragedy. Not learning the lessons of history is one of mankind’s most risible mistakes.

[ToraToraTora]

ZM agrees with TTT! well I'll go to the foot of our stairs!

[Zacs-Master]

:-)

[andy-hughes]

I am not a football fan, but as I understand it, the crushing tragedies were often caused by hooligan elements trying to get at each other, combined with pitch invasions.

It appears that in the UK at least, the standard hooligan behaviour which was virtually guarenteed, has all but died out, and the perception is that terracing may once again be a safe way for crowds to watch games.

[Zacs-Master]

The hooligan element was much in evidence when I went to watch the Leeds vs Millwall game earlier this season.

[Canary42]

I attended standing areas for years and years without any trouble - gave up going in the 70s because of the hooligans.