Football Clubs Neglecting Disabled Fans

A study, carried out by shadow secretary for sport, Chris Bryant, has shown that many professional football clubs are failing to meet the needs of disabled fans.

The research found that of 92 teams in the top four divisions, 55 forced fans of the away team to sit in the home section.  In fact, only three Premier League teams meet the guidelines set out by the Accessible Stadia Guide that stipulates the minimum space for wheelchairs that should be available, based on the size of the stadium.

Inadequate Situation

Last year the government noted that the situation for disabled football fans was “woefully inadequate” but the recent report shows that there are still plenty of serious issues still facing football fans with disabilities.

Labour is now calling for sufficient wheelchair space at football grounds to be a mandatory requirement and have asked for help consulting on the issue from the FA and the Premier League.

The consultation compares the cost of upgrading each club’s facilities against the amount spent on player transfers annually.  For example a club like Chelsea would need to spend around £1.8m to upgrade their grounds compared to their spend of nearly £120m last year on players alone.

Chelsea fan, Gary Siddons, thinks that nothing has really changed for disabled supporters: “I’ve had to pick and choose away matches and if you have to sit with the home fans when your team is playing away it can get quite heated and awkward.”

“Clubs would never even consider placing able-bodies supporters in another team’s section but it just seems acceptable that disabled people should do it.”

Real Action Needed

Chris Bryant, the MP behind the research, comments: “We need an end on the unfair and complex schemes for disabled fans to get tickets for matches, the lack of audio provisions and the restrictions on guide dogs.  It isn’t right that clubs are failing their disabled fans and we need to see real action and improvement this season.”