Opinions: MP Don Foster on a fair deal for fans
Last updated : 13 October 2008 By Don Foster
I keep being told that politicians should keep our noses out of football. Of course we shouldn't be able to decide, say, the offside rule or the use of video replays.
I also agree we shouldn't dictate the prices for Premier League season tickets. But we can surely point out that they're a rip off and up to 5 times more expensive than for comparable teams in the rest of Europe.
But I believe there are certain areas where politicians should get involved; areas such as ownership of football clubs, safe-standing and improved access for disabled fans.
The Premiership - even though they don't want interference - admits it's up to the government to establish the rules on club ownership. The current rules clearly don't work. They don't ensure we have owners with concern about the long term future of the game. Government should act.
It was politicians who - rightly at the time - insisted on all-seater stadia for top flight games. But we now have the problem of fans standing - unsafely - on seats despite new technology that provides safe-standing areas. So politicians should look again at this issue. If they can do it in Germany, then why can't we?
And politicians have got to do more to help disabled fans. I was appalled to learn that only two Premiership clubs meet government guidelines for the provision of disabled spaces in football stadia. All of the Big Four are failing to meet the required level of access. If the clubs can't meet the voluntary guidelines, perhaps politicians should make them compulsory.
Enough is enough. Fans deserve a better deal. It is time that politicians got their hands dirty. We've just had the introduction of the 'respect' campaign for refs - how about introducing one for fans? Respect for their loyalty - it's time it was rewarded.
