On April 15 1989, 24,000 Liverpool fans travelled to Hillsborough for an FA cup semi-final against Nottingham Forrest. 96 of those fans never returned.
The question is, should a tragedy 22-years-ago, decide on whether or not the Safe Standing Bill, introduced by Lib Dems MP, Don Foster, should be brought into law.
The idea was condemned by Walton MP, Steve Rotheram, who believes football authorities should be cautious before promoting such ideas.
The proposed Bill was put forward in December 2010 to the House of Commons, in a bid to bring back standing in England’s top two divisions.
If approved this would give all football clubs the freedom to build or maintain existing standing sections in their stadium.
It is argued that after that dark day at Hillsborough, the deadliest stadium-related disaster in British history, there can be no such thing as ‘safe’ standing at football.
Gerry McIver, a member of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, dismissed the proposition of the plans to reintroduce standing at stadiums.
I called up Mr McIver and put the question to him.
Do you think it is possible to introduce standing back into the top two divisions, and do you think this could work?
“No way and never is my answer.
“As far as we are concerned we never want standing to return and it never should,” before ending the call in a heartbeat.
Over two decades on people are still hurting, still angry, and rightly so.
But, as tragic as this event was, should this determine the fate of this Bill.
There is a flip side to the coin.
It is has been suggested that in a free, democratic country it is iniquitous to deny football fans the freedom to choose whether they watch their sport sitting down or standing up.
Mr Foster, who is pushing for this return, said: “We are unhappy that the law and government policy are restricting fans from standing when it can be done safely, as evidence from home and abroad shows.
“Speaking as a Liberal, people should be able to make their own decisions wherever possible.
If fans want to stand, and we can prove that there is a way to do it safely, then they should be able to.”
Currently, clubs in the Premier League and the Championship do not have the option of creating standing areas in grounds, after Lord Justice Taylor recommended standing terraces should be outlawed after the Hillsborough disaster.
In 1994 these rules were applied and have since been followed, but over the years there has been a call for standing areas to return to top flight football.
I spoke to Jon Darch, who runs the Safe Standing Roadshow. He travels to various grounds providing supporters with the opportunity to see a “rail seat” area in action. A method regarded highly successful in Germany and believed to be the answer for safe standing in this country.
The rails, have flip-up seats which are locked upright for league matches for fans to stand, then brought down for Champions League matches at which fans sit to meet Uefa and Fifa requirements.
Germany see’s the largest crowds and is also the world’s most profitable league, so why could this not be adopted in England?
Mr Darch pointed out, “Grounds for both rugby codes have large standing areas. Even the sport of kings, horse racing, has standing areas, as well as golf.
“No other sports fans are discriminated in this way.”
He believes it would hugely improve the atmosphere and make those fans who like to stand feel welcome, he added: “As opposed to them being made to feel like criminals.”
I asked him about the concerns over a repeat of Hillsborough and about a backlash if the decision were to be approved. His reply was this,
“Anyone who looks into the facts will know that Hillsborough was caused by poor policing, stewarding and perimeter fences,”
stressing not through standing, and went on to remind me of the Ellis Park tragedy.
In 2001, chilling similarities to Hillsborough occurred, when 43 people were crushed to death in the ‘Ellis Park Stadium disaster’, the worst sporting accident in South African history, and yet it was an all-seated stadium.
Despite the ground holding 60,000 – 62,000 tickets were printed for a local derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. The game was postponed after thousands barged their way past stewards.
A leading stadium architect, John Barrow, believes that with the technology available today, he is confident standing in the top two divisions would be safe.
Mr Barrow, whose company, Populous, have designed venues such as Arsenal’s Emirates, London’s Olympic Stadium and Soccer City in Johannesburg, also thinks that this would help solve the dilemmas faced by many clubs who are looking to expand their capacity.
Recent surveys conducted have highlighted fans in favour for the return outweigh those who oppose standing in England’s top two divisions.
In October, the Daily Star Sunday interviewed 1002 fans – the biggest poll of its kind. 66.3% of fans were in favour – 17.5% were against the idea.
In November, Talk Sport, posted online – Should we have safe standing zones in football stadia? 91% answered yes – only 9% answered no.
Mr Foster believes it’s only a matter of when and not if, admitting he is getting more and more confident about the introduction.
Despite standing areas abroad, and in other sports in this country, should football fans accept that the terrace era has been and gone? And out of respect to those who lost their lives forget the idea of pushing for this new law?
Or should supporters be free to have a choice?
This Bill will be on the Order Paper for a second reading debate on January 20 2012
