© EuroFootball.com
Most English football fans want to get rid of seats in stadiums and return to standing areas, which used to dominate in the past, according to a special survey conducted by BBC television.
The organization FFC, which unites fans, declares that over 92% of actively involved people from various clubs support such a decision.
All-seater stadiums have been mandatory since 1989, when, after a crowd crush at a football match in Sheffield (Hillsborough tragedy) that claimed the lives of 96 "Liverpool" fans, such a solution was recommended by the inquiry conducted by Lord Taylor.
This idea was also supported by one of the FFC founders, Tim Gentles: “This is the fourth time we have conducted a survey on the reinstatement of safe, specially designed standing areas, and each time more than 90% of people responded positively.”
This time, the opinion was expressed by 2100 fans of the top two leagues, almost half of whom held season tickets. Their arguments - the behavior of fans has changed since the costly tragedy, and modern technologies have emerged, allowing better safety for spectators.
However, whether this can be implemented in reality is still unclear, as the current sports minister, Richard Caborn, is not inclined to make any changes: “There is no evidence that it is possible to ensure the safety of spectators in any other way than with seated places.”
The government remains loyal to the current policy. Football leaders have also clearly stated that they do not want to revive the idea of standing areas.
Despite the fact that seats are now installed everywhere, the most active fans in England and other countries rarely sit down.
