Safe-standing petition hits target with 100,000 signatures

A petition calling for MPs to debate the introduction of safe-standing in England's top leagues reaches 100,000 signatures.

The introduction of safe-standing at Premier League and Championship stadiums could be debated in the House of Commons after a petition calling for MPs to review the matter hit its target of 100,000 signatures.

The UK government recently rejected proposals by West Bromwich Albion to introduce standing at its Hawthorns ground, but the Football Supporters' Federation's (FSF) successful petition could force Parliament to revisit the topic.

"We would like to thank every last fan who signed the petition and helped take standing to Parliament - the sheer number of fans involved shows the strength of feeling on an issue that isn't going away," BBC Sport quotes the FSF as saying in a statement.

"This is not just a 'vocal minority' as the sports minister presumed - the overwhelming majority of fans back the choice to sit or stand, as do most clubs and a growing number of MPs who will look forward to the debate."

Standing was banned in England's top two divisions under the terms of the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives.

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has thanked fans for making their feelings known on safe standing.

"This will now give me the opportunity to discuss at length the nuances and complexities of sports ground safety in Parliament, if and when the Petitions Committee agree to it being debated," she said.

Numerous clubs including Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers have expressed interest in introducing safe-standing at their grounds in the future.

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A general view inside Selhurst Park, taken in October 2017
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