Andy Burnham urges football alcohol ban to be scrapped | OneFootball

Andy Burnham has called for the long-standing ban on drinking alcohol in football stands to be scrapped, describing it as outdated and discriminatory. The Prime Minister argued football fans are unfairly singled out compared with supporters of other sports.

According to TheArgus.co.uk, the restriction was introduced in the 1980s amid hooliganism concerns and applies across the top five levels of the English men’s game, including Crawley Town and Worthing.

Burnham, an Everton supporter, said football was very different when the law was made and believes there is a case to remove what he regards as discrimination, potentially via trials.

The Football Supporters’ Association welcomed his comments and noted that pilots allowing alcohol in the stands have been run successfully in the women’s game. Police chiefs cautioned that altering the rules without proper consultation with forces would be incredibly rash.

In line with regulations at top-division grounds, Albion fans cannot drink in view of the pitch. Alcohol is available in the concourses, hospitality areas and at The Terrace, the sports bar beside the stadium that opened 18 months ago and is popular before and after matches.

Supporters were permitted to drink during a WSL fixture at the Amex late last season under a trial. Albion have declined to comment on Burnham’s remarks, and it is likely the club would weigh extra convenience and income against the disruption of more frequent seat-leaving during games.

Source: TheArgus.co.uk

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”