Safe Standing

Safe standing has become a topic of discussion lately, here's what I think of it.

I wasnt brought up in the generation of standing on the terraces during football games. However, Ive heard many stories from my family about what it was like back in the 70's & 80's and its made me wish I was brought up in that generation. I know the terraces were not 100% safe but back then football was football; there wasnt any diving or greedy players going to club's just for money- a player would go to another club to try and improve his career for the better. 

Safe standing is bringing a bit of football's glory days back, apart from this time its safer. Standing would give a football fan a choice weather to sit or stand- I feel that this would attract many more football fans to matches. A survey by the FSF (Football Supporters Federation) revealed that 8 out of 10 football fans would pefer to have the choice to sit or stand at a football game. More fans make a better atmosphere, a better atmosphere makes the matchday experience a whole lot better. The concept on safe standing is also very simple. If a team has a European match, a person can unlock all the seats with a key so all fans would be seated during a European game as required. Then if the club has a league match the next week, the seats can simply be locked back into place. Safe standing would also raise the standard of safety for away fans who never sit down. What fan sits down at an away game? I certainly dont know any that do. Leaning on a bar infront of you is a lot safer than having a seat infront of you that is 5 centremetres above the row your standing on. Also, when your team scores and your jumping up and down celebrating, would you feel safer jumping up and down with a bar infront and behind you or would you feel safer with a plastic seat infront of your foot? I know your answer to that question... Ive got another question for you. Have you heard of anyone that has been crushed in the standing section (known as 'The Yellow Wall') at Borussia Dortmund? I havent heard of anyone who has. Nearly half the clubs in the German Bundesliga have the safe standing system in place and I would love to see it introduced into football in our county.

As much as I support safe standing, I must look at the argument from another point of view. I understand that many people who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough disaster are against it as they do not want a repeat of the tragedy. I fully understand their point; if I'd lost a loved one in such a terrible disaster I'd be skeptical about bringing standing back. If I had lost my Dad (for example) in the saddening events that happened on that dreadful day I wouldn't stand in the standing section as what happened at Hillsborough on that tragic afternoon would constantly be playing in the back of my mind. A negative point about safe standing is that if a father wanted to take his little boy to a football match, he (the father) might want to go in the standing section but would be forced to go in the seated section with his little boy as he (his little boy) might not be able to stand up for the full 90 minutes. This could dampen the father's matchday experience. This might deter the father from taking his son to matches. If a father doesnt take his son to football matches at few times a season, his son might lose interest in the sport which would lead to lower attendances in the future when that father's son is an adult. It might sound very extreme but its a possibility. 

I hope you've enjoyed this article, 
please tweet me feedback! If you would like me to write an article about a topic that appeals to you please tell me and I will consider it. My Twitter- @samwhufcfrancis