Burnham’s push for drinking in stands scores own goal with football fans

Andy Burnham’s latest policy idea has turned into an own goal after a majority of football fans rejected his call to lift the ban on drinking during matches.

The Prime Minister claimed this week it was unfair for football fans to be “singled out” and not allowed to take alcohol into the stands. Rugby and cricket supporters are allowed to drink while watching matches.

However, a YouGov survey carried out after his remarks found that 63 per cent of regular matchgoers believed the ban should remain in place, while 35 per cent said it should be abolished.

The poll of 6,091 people, conducted on Thursday, found 68 per cent of Britons wanted the ban to stay. Only 15 per cent of respondents agreed with Mr Burnham’s suggestion.

Speaking to reporters at this week’s United Nations summit in New York, Mr Burnham called for the change to the law, suggesting that it could be done on “a trial basis”.

He said: “I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way, and I made that point. I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.

“There are different ways it could be done, perhaps on a trial basis. But I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”

Under a law passed in 1985 in response to widespread hooliganism during matches, it is illegal to drink in view of a football pitch in England.

A review of the game in 2021, led by football fans, recommended that the rules on drinking in the stands should be reconsidered. However, police chiefs have long opposed any changes, pointing to a higher chance of misbehaviour by fans.

The YouGov poll also found that regular matchgoers were more likely to say a ban on drinking alcohol in the stands would make the matchday experience worse.

Forty-one per cent of regular matchgoers said the end of the alcohol ban would make the experience of watching a football match in a stadium worse, with 33 per cent saying it would improveit. Twenty-one per cent believed it would make no difference.

Among the public, 54 per cent said the matchday experience would get worse if Mr Burnham’s proposals were to be put into practice. Just 15 per cent said they would have a better time watching a match if supporters were allowed to drink in the stands.

Fourteen per cent felt it would make no difference, and the remaining 17 per cent said they did not know.

Alcohol has been banned in Scottish football stadiums since 1981, but trials allowing fans to drink before kick-off have recently begun.

The UK Football Policing Unit responded to Mr Burnham’s proposals by claiming it would be “incredibly rash” to change the rules without a consultation.

It said on Thursday: “Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does – albeit a minority – with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour.”

The English Football League, however, said it would be open to the proposals put forward by Mr Burnham because existing legislation had not “kept pace” with the game.

An spokesman said: “Applying a blanket ban to all supporters is not proportionate to the level of risk associated with alcohol consumption at the vast majority of EFL fixtures, which are categorised as low risk.”

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