Tottenham confirm they have received government approval for fully licensed safe standing in seated areas and will be able to put the system into use in the New Year.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was one of five arenas in England and Wales selected by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) to trial the approach, with assessments being carried out until the end of the season.
Safe standing has been banned in English football for nearly 30 years but, with its potential to be reintroduced, some areas of the stadium were future-proofed with railed sections in the lower parts of the south stand and away end.
Spurs have since confirmed they have been permitted to have licensed safe standing areas, which will come into effect as early as January 1, 2022, with the club’s FA Cup meeting against Morecambe on January 9 set to be the first match for its official use.
The system will also give fans the choice to sit should they want to, meaning the one seat per person guideline will remain in place.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “The Club has led on lobbying the Government for safe standing at stadia and is delighted that this will now be possible.
“It delivers choice for fans attending the game – whether home or away supporters – and the vast majority of our fans are in favour of this scheme.
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“We are extremely proud of our ‘safe seating’ design, which ensures both comfort and safety, whether standing or seated, while maintaining the same aesthetics as in all other areas of the stadium.”
Spurs Web Opinion
This is really good news considering how much people wanted safe standing to be reintroduced safely back into football.
From the games it has been trialled in, it definitely has an effect of creating a better atmosphere and more enjoyment of the product on the pitch. As always, it is good that the stadium has been designed for those who want to sit in these areas too.
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