Chelsea-Liverpool match sees first safe standing game since 1994

LONDON – Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday became the English top-flight’s first game with safe standing at a stadium since 1994.

Laws have been in place for almost 30 years stipulating stadiums in England’s top two divisions must be all-seated.

“Supporters attending Chelsea against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge will see new facilities in use within the Matthew Harding Stand lower tier and Shed End upper and lower tiers,” Britain’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said in a statement.

“It follows Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston recently visiting the stadium to inspect the arrangements put in place, and meet with fans and club representatives,” it added.

Safe standing is common across European stadiums including at Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park.

Alongside the Blues, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Championship club Cardiff are the other outfits taking part in the trial during the second half of the season.

Standing in English football’s top two divisions was outlawed following recommendations made in the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.

“Those who want to stand should be allowed to stand,” Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son and Liverpool fan James was killed in the crush at Hillsborough, said.

“Fans are treated completely differently now to what they were in the 1970s and 1980s. They are really monitored. They are more careful. They’ve learned lessons because of Hillsborough.” – AFP, January 3, 2022