FSM
Round Up
Majority of MPs back Safe Standing
Nearly two-thirds of MPs believe the all-seater stadium rule should be scrapped to allow safe standing in English football’s top two tiers, a YouGov survey has found. All-seater stadiums have been compulsory in the top two tiers
since the start of the 1994-95 season, at the recommendation of the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. There are some clubs in the Championship however, such
as Brentford, who have been given special dispensation to have standing areas at their grounds. However, attempts to stop persistent standing have had little
impact, and fans have repeatedly voted for a repeal of the law in previous polls. Until last year, there had been little sign that opinions were
changing among lawmakers but, according to a survey of 100 MPs, 62 backed safe-standing, with 22 against and 15 undecided. Among those who consider themselves football fans, three- quarters supported safe-standing.
The London-based firm also asked more than 2,000 adults
what they thought about the return of legal standing areas in England’s top two leagues and nearly half backed the idea, with more than a third saying they did not know. Only one in six were against changing the law. Among those who said they have an interest in football,
the number in favour leapt to seven out of 10, and for those who said they have a strong interest in the game, that number increased to almost eight out of 10. Richard Elliot, an associate director at YouGov, told PA Sport:
“Close to two-thirds of the 100 MPs surveyed support safe- standing areas and that support is even higher among the general public with a strong interest in football. “The main reason given for opposition among MPs and
the public was a belief that standing at stadiums can never be safe. So although there’s strong support out there, there’s still important work to do to address safety concerns.”
Green light for Elland Road development Leeds City Council has granted planning permission for changes to the Whites' stadium
New floodlights at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium have been given the green light by Leeds City Council. The Whites submitted
a planning application on March 29 for permission to install two 44-metre- high masts behind the West Stand at the ground. Premier
League
regulations had been mentioned within the application as the grounds for wanting to install the new lights, but permission has been granted despite failing to win promotion. It is understood the club will press ahead
with the erection of the floodlights despite missing out on Premier League football this time.
8 FSM
stadium and rise up and over the top of the West Stand to light the pitch. In a statement attached
The council’s chief planning officer Tim
Hill published a report confirming the club had been granted permission, which would expire in three years’ time. The columns would be installed at the south-west and north-west corners of the
to the application’s design philosophy, Dudleys Struc- tural & Civil Consultants said: “As part of Leeds United preparations for Premiership football, it is proposed to install two new feature LED lighting columns behind the West Stand of the Elland Road ground in order Leeds United will be able to sat- isfy the minimum require- ments of hosting Premier-
ship football. “The lighting columns have been designed
by specialist lighting suppliers Musco, one to be placed each on the south-west and north-west corners.”
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