Xinhua
23 Sep 2021, 06:14 GMT+10
LONDON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Premier League and Championship League clubs could apply for licensed safe standing to the trial return of standing areas at football grounds, announced Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) on Wednesday.
SGSA, the British government's advisor on safety at sports grounds, confirmed that football clubs in the top two tiers will have until October 6 to submit an application to it. If approved, these clubs will be able to offer licensed standing areas from January 1, 2022.
"The licensed standing areas will be independently evaluated from their introduction in January for the remainder of the 2021/22 season. Other parts of the ground will remain all-seated and fans will be expected to sit in these areas," read a statement released by the SGSA.
After the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 which cost the lives of 97 Liverpool fans, the stadiums in English football's top two leagues have been requiring to be all-seaters since 1994.
"We know many fans want the choice to stand and, with the advent of new engineering solutions, our research has shown how this can be managed safely," said Martyn Henderson, Chief Executive of the SGSA. "Today's announcement will enable us to properly test and evaluate licensed standing areas before the government decides its next steps."
Clubs will have to meet a number of criteria in order to receive approval to have licensed standing areas. For example, seats with barriers or independent barriers must be in both home and away sections. Fans must be able to sit or stand in the licensed area. There must also be one seat or space per person.
Get a daily dose of Liverpool Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Liverpool Star.
More InformationMOSCOW, Russia: This week, Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan since...
CAIRO, Egypt: This week, both Hamas and Israel shared their views ahead of expected peace talks about a new U.S.-backed ceasefire plan....
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has made public a visa decision that would usually be kept private. It did this to send...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has made public a visa decision that would usually be kept private. It did this to send...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
LONDON/STOCKHOLM: The Persson family is ramping up its investment in the H&M fashion empire, fueling renewed speculation about a potential...
PARIS, France: L'Oréal is making a fresh play in the booming premium haircare segment with a new acquisition. The French beauty conglomerate...