West Brom’s plans for standing areas rejected

West Bromwich Albion’s plans to bring standing areas permanently back into the top English football leagues have been blocked by the sports minister, Tracey Crouch.

The club wanted to run a pilot scheme to introduce rail seating at The Hawthorns for both home and away fans next season, and had made its application last October.

All-seater stadia in the top two leagues in English football were introduced in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, when the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at an 1989 FA Cup semi-final were blamed on problems caused by fans standing, perimeter fences and, eventually, police failings.

Football clubs are uniquely subject to the all-seater rule while fans watching other sports, including rugby league and rugby union, or attending large events, such as concerts, are not.

Sports grounds in other countries, notably Celtic Park in Scotland, have introduced rail seating.

The Sports Grounds Safety Authority said: “West Bromwich Albion is subject to the government’s all-seater policy and DCMS have said they have no current plans to change their position and introduce standing accommodation at grounds in the top two divisions covered by the all-seater policy.”

West Bromwich Albion’s director of operations Mark Miles described Crouch’s decision as “both surprising and disappointing” and has written back to the Sports Grounds Safety Authority urging a review.

“I think the Minister has taken a short-sighted view and is preventing the club from creating a safer environment for supporters,” he said. “The all-seater policy was developed over 25 years ago and football is a very different place now.”

Miles highlighted the successful use of rail seating elsewhere and also the purpose of the pilot scheme to be able to further assess its suitability.

He added: “The system we proposed is well-tested across Europe and has also worked successfully at Celtic, who are governed by different legislation than in England and Wales. We were prepared to run a pilot which would enable the Club to gather data and feedback to further inform us in the issue of crowd safety.

“But I have become convinced that rail-seating would enhance safety.”

The club may however get its wish to pilot the scheme through a less welcome route. The rules only apply to the top two leagues of English football. Relegation from the Premier League later is expected to be confirmed later this month and so far 21 relegated clubs have suffered a second relegation, into the third tier, in the Premier League’s 25-year history.