Manchester United to study possible reintroduction of safe-standing at Old Trafford

Manchester United (Premier League) have agreed to study the feasibility of reintroducing safe-standing at Old Trafford (76,000 seats), on the 19/10/2013.

Ed Woodward, chief executive of the club, has expressed a willingness to explore the idea, according to the British newspaper The Independent. The organisation Safe Standing Roadshow in association with the FSF (Football Supporters Federation) has been campaigning since 2012 for the return of standing areas in English stadiums. The proposed solution is the introduction of "rail seats." Widely used in Germany, they can be folded back and then replaced with seats for European games. Proponents of these facilities believe that standing areas would improve the atmosphere in English stadiums.

Standing places have been banned in the UK since 1989 after the introduction of a law passed in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 15/04/1989. 96 spectators were killed in a stampede during the meeting between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

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