Manchester City are ready to spearhead the move to get fans back on the terraces.
Officials from the Etihad Stadium have approached the FA with an offer to host a trial to see if safe standing can return to football.
The defending Premier League champions, along with Sam Allardyce’s West Ham and Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa, are at the forefront of an initiative to give fans the standing zones they have long campaigned for.
A spokesman for City explained that they want to safely implement a move away from all-seater stadiums – if they get the backing of the FA – because their supporters are behind the idea.
He added: “Manchester City Football Club is supportive of initiatives to enhance – safely – our fans’ match-day experience, if supported by the appropriate football authorities.”
In practice, City believe it is now possible to follow the German football model and safely introduce standing areas, where special safety barriers known as ‘rail seat zones’ are used.
These zones operate in the Bundesliga, and the Football Supporters’ Federation is now lobbying parliament to change legislation to allow a trial to be introduced into the Premier League.
The FSF believes safety will not be compromised in any way by fans, but the atmosphere at stadiums will be increased significantly, as is the experience in Germany.
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