England: 70% of Football League clubs vote for the return of standing areas

70% of 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th division English clubs voted for a return of standing areas at a consultation organised by the Football League (FL) on 06/02/2014. The Football League is an association of 72 professional English clubs that operate in these three lower championships.

The majority of English FL clubs support a law change which allows match attendees to stand. Standing areas have been prohibited in the UK since 1989, when a law was introduced in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster on 15/04/1989; an incident where 96 spectators were killed in a stampede during a match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

The FL could ask the English Ministry of Sport to change the regulations. The organisation "Safe Standing Roadshow", in association with the FSF (Football Supporters Federation), have been campaigning since 2012 for the return of standing areas in English stadiums. The proposed solution consists of the introduction of rail seats. Widely used in Germany, they are installed in the place of conventional seats and can be replaced with seating for European matches. Proponents…