England: Premier League and Sky Bet Championship clubs authorised to use safe standing from 2022-23

"Premier League and Sky Bet Championship clubs wishing to introduce licensed 'safe standing' areas at football stadiums will be able to do so from the start of the 2022-23 season," announced the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, on 04/07/2022, following successful trials conducted since the 2019-20 season (see below).

Standing in stadiums had been banned in the United Kingdom since 1989 and the introduction of a law passed following the Hillsborough disaster on 15/04/1989, in which 96 spectators were crushed to death during a match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield (ENG), in a crowd surge caused by police who attempted to ease crowding outside the stadium by opening a gate into part of the stadium.

"We want to make the experience of watching football as magical as the play on the pitch. Fans will now be able to cheer on their team from a seat or join others in a safe standing section to really get behind the players and roar on their heroes to victory. We are not…