Fans hit back at Burnley after issuing update on persistent standing

Fans have decided to hit back at Burnley after issuing an update on persistent standing during their home matches throughout 2022/23.

The club needs all the support it can get right now, but an unlikely attempt to follow the rules and regulations hasn’t boded well with some of the fanbase.

After the game against Luton Town, a Burnley fan received a letter from the club authorities stating in some detail about his ban.

The person in question is now banned from entering the stadium for games against Hull City and Blackpool for his actions of ‘Persistent Standing’ during the previous game against Luton.

Burnley have decided to ban me for persistent standing in an area of the ground that has never sat down (Lower Longside Block 3). Really disappointed with the angle the club has taken and I would imagine there will be quite a few other receiving similar letters. #twitterclarets pic.twitter.com/N5CXpB0pkH

— @Claretsam2 (@Claretsam21) August 13, 2022

BURNLEY STATEMENT:

Burnley Football Club can confirm in recent weeks we have been in communication with a number of season ticket holders regarding persistent standing in the North Stand Lower at Turf Moor.

By ‘persistent’ the Club means when individuals in seated areas stand for prolonged periods of time other than for short durations in periods of play where it could be deemed unnatural to remain seated.

The Club have sent correspondence reminding several identified supporters to remain seated in their designated seat, except for the times mentioned above, as persistent standing not only obstructs other people’s views and spoils their enjoyment but is a safety issue and breach of ground regulations that are stated when fans purchase a ticket to a game at Turf Moor. This has been reinforced via the match days stewarding team.

As a football club, Burnley FC work under a safety certificate, issued by Lancashire County Council and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority has been in communication with the Club asking us to intervene on the matter surrounding persistent standing before they take further action.

In accordance with Section 10 of the Football Spectators Act 1989 Act, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority remains responsible for issuing and ensuring compliance with licences to admit spectators to sports grounds to watch designated football matches, on such terms and conditions as it considers appropriate.

Should safety procedures surrounding persistent standing not be followed the Sports Grounds Safety Authority can use existing Section 10 licensing powers and enforcement approaches to close blocks of seats and stands at the stadium.

The repercussions and wider impact this could have on a significant number of supporters is further reason why we are taking a strong stance on the issue of persistent standing in the North Stand Lower block and why we are in a position whereby additional action such as match bans for supporters not complying has been required.

The Club held discussions with the identified supporters on this matter and numerous attempts had been made to resolve the situation, including an offer at the time, to relocate to the Barnfield Construction Stand. At the stadium we must be rigorous in upholding the all-seater licence, however we have an approved management plan in this stand, with increased stewarding and safety procedures in place to provide spectator safety for those standing for longer periods of the game.

Burnley Football Club are dedicated to ensuring Turf Moor is a safe and enjoyable environment for all supporters, and through this statement aim to clarify how we have reached this position and why such action has been taken. We will continue in this fashion to resolve the issue.

We thank supporters for their cooperation and understanding on this matter.

As mentioned, fans hit back at Championship outfit Burnley after issuing update on persistent standing…

@bfcwill_: It’s a football match, people are gonna stand up, it’s not snooker ffs

@abbie_bfc: No good though when I’ve asked to move seats as offered in the original email to those in Block 2/3 and had no response 🙄

@PREMIERCLARETS: Pathetic

@joegallemore2: People have been standing up there for years why they bothered now?

@joshpearson180: Make blocks 1, 2 and 3 safe standing and those who want to stand can and those who want to sit down can still enjoy the game, problem solved 👍🏼

@Blackoclaret: Trying to pin this balls up on LCC? 🧐

@BurnleyAdz: Is the CFS safe standing? You’ll relocate to there? Surely same health and safety rule apply there so how does that make sense? Season ticket holders in Block2/3 have stood for years none of them complain as they all want to stand

@BenCostello1882: Shocking, what you going to do when there is 2000 standing for Blackburn at home?

@Peth78: All this to protect the view of corporate fans.

@gb1882: That’s a lot of words to say the corporate visitors are more important than fans

@Camclaret1Calum: If the legislation has been there since 1989, why are you acting on it now and since fans have been standing in that section for 20 years, why would lancs council only raise it now? Just be honest, corporate box owners + players families complained as they want to sit

@ClaretJimmy: so much wrong with this it’s embarrassing, and no doubt nothing to do with safety, perhaps the new fancy corporate boxes directly behind. I wonder why you’ve not highlighted the issue in other areas?

@TheIanHalstead:
Announcing a future intention to address a perceived issue about *persistent standing* is 👍
Discussing the issue with supporter groups and other fans … also 👍
Briefing local media on the issue in advance – crucial.
Issuing a pompous retrospective 👀legal statement is 🙃

@fish_stuart: If u are going to make fans sit down let’s start by getting away fans to sit down or is won set off rules for them and another set of rules for home fans

@BurnleyAdz: Your killing the atmosphere by doing this. Corporate boxes being prioritised over season ticket holders who have been on the Longside for years shocking from a community club and a club that’s meant to value its self on us all being one together

@Chris_Horner1: If standing is such a rule breaker then why are you offering fans the chance to do that in the CFS. Blocks 1/2 of longside have been used for standing by fans for decades. To suddenly start criminalising loyal fans doesn’t seem right. The seat covers on Tuesday were embarrassing

@officialjules: Exactly! They forget it wasn’t so long ago they had the begging buckets going around the ground.

@claretmatt87: Many misrepresentations and lies in this statement. There’s been no “ongoing discussion” just aggressive threats of ejection and cancelling season tickets by stewards following a single email which in many cases, inc. my own, will have ended up caught in a junk filter. I’ve asked to relocate to Barnfield/CFS with no success. It’s a cheaper ticket, I’m sure I won’t be refunded the difference if successful & the club will then happily sell my more expensive seat for additional profit. No one to contact at the club as they don’t have an SLO

@ClaretThe: Why don’t the club actually do something to support the fans to increase the atmosphere and not try and ruin it. It’s really not difficult, just have a look at other clubs. Maybe, just maybe try and work closely with us fans and create something special and unique at Turf Moor

@PaulWalmsley18: I could understand this if it was an isolated incident but not if it’s the area where everyone stands up. There needs to be a designated standing area brought back in.

Or just get a seat at the back of the stand like me (longside upper aka nose bleeds) with a cracking view and no one sat behind therefore stood up all game and a back wall to bang and help create the atmosphere 👍😉💜💙 pic.twitter.com/tNhU4NqBrU

— Robert Devine (@BobDevineCSM) August 18, 2022