Sunderland ban standing fans

[oxford blue]

Fron Sky Sports News:

Sunderland have taped up the seats of fans who refuse to sit down during games at the Stadium of Light.

Black Cats supporters who persistently stand throughout matches have been suspended from using their season tickets for home games.

A photo circulated on Twitter shows a seat with a note on it saying: "This season card has been suspended due to persistent standing."

The club have issued a warning on their website about people who break the law on standing during matches and insist they must act to protect the safety and the view of other fans.

They say they have received an "increasing number of complaints", particularly from fans in the South Stand, which say the game is being spoiled by others who stand throughout the 90 minutes.

The club said 38 fans have been ejected from the Stadium of Light so far, compared to just 20 last season.

Head of safety and security Paul Weir said: "We certainly don't wish to spoil the enjoyment of any supporters, we want a vibrant lively matchday atmosphere just as much as the fans do, but we also have legal obligations that we must be seen to be adhering to.

A pity the reaction wasn't: "As a football club interested in serving the fans who come to every home game, we recognise that many fans want to stand to watch football. We will be campaigning vigoursly to allow safe standing at all football grounds, so that all our supporters can see football as they want to, whether seated or standing."

[purpleronnie]

funny how some clubs dont care but others enforce it to this degree.

[Guest Bilo]

Bizarrely heavy-handed considering Sunderland are one of the clubs who've come out in favour of safe standing, as well as the fact that they aren't selling out at the moment.

Very disappointing to see, especially in a seat that has a wall behind it and is therefore at the back of the stand where standing poses less of a problem.

[Harry - LCFC]

Those fans who want to see the game while sitting down should purchase tickets elsewhere rather than spoil the entertainment of others by complaining and calling for fans to be ejected.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

In the photo (which was posted on Twitter) the seat shown backs onto a brick wall so exactly whose view is being impeded by the season ticket holder in that seat I'm not exactly sure... A little common sense in matters such as these would be nice.

Photo can be seen here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2253642/Sunderland-issue-warning-sign-fans-persistent-standing.html

[Voll Blau]

Clearly pressure from above. Sunderland City Council's H&S department are well known for being a complete bunch of wallopers, reducing Man United's allocations there for persistent standing etc.

[Bert]

Taping seats down isn't going to help sort the problem. How are they gonna sit down?

[SystonFox]

What a waste of 3 decent cable ties

[Dan]

It's sad that some people actually won't lambast them, I'm sick of absolutely ridiculous decisions being made by ridiculous, out of touch, common sense deprived idiots.

What a joke.

[Fox92]

I haven't seen any images or anything, so I don't know where the seats actually are.

But if they are stood in front of people who want to sit then that is obviously a problem. People should buy tickets at the back if they want to stand, I have always said this. If they are stood at the back of the stand, I don't see the problem as the back row isn't actually causing a problem to people behind (because there is no row behind), but it could be influencing others to do it infront, where some people would rather sit.

There does need to be a section 'safe standing' (I agree) where fans can stand. They can stand and enjoy the game. The fans that don't want to can sit and enjoy the game with no problems. Never heard of taping seats down though, and 'suspending' season ticket holders.

[purpleronnie]

Taping seats down isn't going to help sort the problem. How are they gonna sit down?

They aren't it was a season ticket holder so the seat will remain vacant.

[The Year Of The Fox]

you'd hope their fans will fight this not take it lying down

[davieG]

you'd hope their fans will fight this not take it lying down

you'd hope their fans will fight this not take it lying sitting down

[The Year Of The Fox]

you'd hope their fans will fight this not take it lying sitting down

i had realised there was a pun there, just couldnt be arsed typing it

[purpleronnie]

you'd hope their fans will fight this not take it lying down

not sure how they can.

[The Year Of The Fox]

not sure how they can.

a boycott maybe. letters to the club

[purpleronnie]

a boycott maybe. letters to the club

But they'd simply state its against stadium regulations, they cant come out and say we allow standing.

[The Year Of The Fox]

But they'd simply state its against satadium regulations, they cant come out and say we allow standing.

No i realise that. But there are different levels of tolerance depnding on the club and who's running it at the time.

A mass boycott or better still, a mass stand during the game would show them. Hopefully their stance will unite the fans so something positive comes out of it

[Corky]

I haven't seen any images or anything, so I don't know where the seats actually are.

But if they are stood in front of people who want to sit then that is obviously a problem. People should buy tickets at the back if they want to stand, I have always said this. If they are stood at the back of the stand, I don't see the problem as the back row isn't actually causing a problem to people behind (because there is no row behind), but it could be influencing others to do it infront, where some people would rather sit.

There does need to be a section 'safe standing' (I agree) where fans can stand. They can stand and enjoy the game. The fans that don't want to can sit and enjoy the game with no problems. Never heard of taping seats down though, and 'suspending' season ticket holders.

The seat shown in the article posted by Freeman wouls suggest it was a back row seat.

[Fox92]

The seat shown in the article posted by Freeman wouls suggest it was a back row seat.

Didn't see that

[purpleronnie]

This is statement from the FSF who are very willing to meet with clubs and fans to help arbitrate to resolve the current issue at Sunderland.

"The Football Supporters' Federation does not support punitive measures like supporter bans as a reaction to the problem of persistent standing. They are arbitrary, unnecessary and we see no evidence that they work in the long term. Nevertheless, we have spoken to Sunderland AFC about the issue and we do have some sympathy with their situation.

"When the away fans were moved to the Premier Concourse at the start of the season, the club took the opportunity to both revamp the family area of the ground and create a new singing section, which has certainly resulted in improved atmospheres.

"Whilst the club have an obligation to police persistent standing in order to satisfy the terms of their safety certificate, they recognised that a proportion of supporters in the new singing area wished to stand to sing for longer periods and suggested that they did so in the area behind the concourse, leaving the area between the concourse and the pitch for those supporters wishing to stand less frequently.

"Our understanding of the situation is that these bans have been imposed on supporters standing persistently in the area in front of the concourse, amongst fans who wish to sit, and a different degree of tolerance is applied to the area behind the concourse.

"We believe strongly that there is room for all supporters to be accommodated at football and think there is a very simple solution to this issue that does not require bans. We would urge supporters with tickets in the South Stand who prefer to stand while they sing to contact the club with a view to moving behind the line of the concourse, amongst more like-minded fans. This would leave those who enjoy sitting for longer periods to do so at the front of the stand. If fans prefer to contact the FSF rather than the club, we will seek to arrange a meeting with the appropriate parties at the club on the supporters' behalf."

"Sunderland Football Club have been visited by the FSF's Safe Standing Roadshow, which demonstrates a particular type of technology we feel is appropriate for Premier League clubs wishing to provide their fans with a choice to stand, and the club backs our safe standing campaign which calls for the introduction of small-scale trials of modern standing areas.

"We look forward to working with the club and Sunderland supporters with a view to ensuring that all fans are able to watch the match in safety and comfort, even those who prefer to stand more frequently or for longer periods."

___________________________________________________________________

Chief executive: Safety a priority

Published: 28 December, 2012

by SAFC

Margaret Byrne on persistent standing issue.

Sunderland’s chief executive Margaret Byrne has spoken about the issue of persistent standing and how the club is doing all it can to ensure that its supporters can enjoy matchdays at the Stadium of Light in safety and comfort.

Margaret Byrne said: “It’s certainly not our aim to alienate any supporter at the Stadium of Light and certain sections of the media have shown a clear lack of understanding of the law in their reporting of the matter.

“The tragedy at Hillsborough, which led to the loss of the lives of 96 football fans, galvanised a change in football legislation through the implementation of the findings of the Taylor Report. Persistent standing in all-seater stadia is simply not allowed – this isn’t a Sunderland Football Club rule, it’s a legal obligation that all clubs have to adhere to in the interests of the safety of all supporters, which is always our primary concern.

Margaret went on to say that the club is certainly not trying to stifle the passion of its fans. “Football is all about passion and emotion and we are in no way trying to quell that," she added.

“We know that fans stand to celebrate and sing and that’s fantastic - a vibrant, lively, and passionate atmosphere is what everyone wants to see at the Stadium of Light, but what we are trying to eradicate here is people who stand for the entire duration of the game. Sustained standing throughout the game not only compromises their own safety and that of those around them, but also spoils the enjoyment of their fellow supporters.â€

As well as ensuring that the Stadium of Light is a safe environment for all fans, Sunderland is committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy the matchday atmosphere. “We have had to relocate over 200 fans from the south stand this season, including elderly and disabled supporters, who have complained that their view and enjoyment of games was being severely compromised by those who choose to stand throughout the 90 minutes," Margaret said.

“We are trying to be fair to everyone and would ask fans to consider their fellow supporters too.â€

[purpleronnie]

There are also signs in US stadiums to...but for the opposite reasons:-