The FSF’s proposals are for seats similar to those used in Germany to be implemented in the 2 top flights of English football, where standing has been banned since 1994, following a report into the Hillsborough disaster.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson was reported by The Guardian to have agreed to consider reintroducing standing areas in English football, and FSF member John Darch said:
“We have to help people understand we are not talking about bringing back old-style terraces.”
Arguments for the proposal are that ticket prices for the new seating areas would be cheaper than current seats and that although fans can stand they are assigned a seat number and row [so the police can identify them].
Michael Burnett, managing director of Ferco Seating Systems, the company which designed the rail seating used in German stadiums added:
“We would not be proposing the introduction of the vario seat for standing areas if we did not believe it is very safe indeed.”
He also asserted the design is safer than current seats, because fans continually stand during games, and there are no rails to prevent crushes.
