Poll: Blues chief calling for changes in drink laws
Simon Clegg - Credit: Archant
THE chief executive of the Super Blues has written to the Football Association in hopes of seeing “outdated” laws over the restriction of pitchside drinking relaxed.
In a letter to FA chairman David Bernstein, Simon Clegg, chief executive of Ipswich Town Football Club, has urged the association to consider allowing restrictions to be on a local basis rather than a national blanket ban.
Mr Clegg has encouraged the FA and associated organisations to take “a leap of faith” by amending the Sporting Events Act of 1985.
In the letter he argues that the Act was enforced as a direct result of the hooliganism of the 1980s and he believes English football has progressed massively in the past 30 years.
“Without being complacent, the attitudes and behaviour of English football fans today represents an example for the rest of the world to follow,” Mr Clegg writes.
You may also want to watch:
In the letter, he claims “the time is right to review the current restrictions”, and proposes the idea of local Safety Advisory Groups making decisions over alcohol restrictions.
The group would include representatives from the local police force and could make decisions on a match-to-match basis, taking into account behaviour records of each set of fans, police intelligence and local conditions.
Most Read
- 1 Antiques Roadtrip star opens new Suffolk antiques shop
- 2 'Our supporters are tired and bored of us' - Cook on 3-0 loss at AFC Wimbledon
- 3 Cyclist dies after collision with car in Bury St Edmunds
- 4 Ratings: How the Ipswich Town players performed in their 3-0 loss at AFC Wimbledon
- 5 Stu says: Five observations following Ipswich Town's 3-0 loss at AFC Wimbledon
- 6 Cafe owner 'very emotional' after mystery customer leaves £500 for staff
- 7 'Complete negligence' - anger as sports clubs locked out of playing fields
- 8 Driver flees after crashing into level crossing
- 9 Driver who killed 'dearly loved' man, 29, in crash is jailed
- 10 Ipswich Town transfer rumour: Spurs loanee Parrott set to return to Blues next season
He adds: “From an individual club perspective, I can assure you that we would welcome a change in the law that would enable supporters to once again enjoy alcohol in the ground, albeit with plastic cups or bottles, which in turn would greatly add to the atmosphere, at a time of falling gates, and enhance the overall experience of the football fan.”
The letter, which was written in October, is understood to have received the support of many Championship chief executives and chairmen following a meeting during the same month.
Mr Clegg believes Portman Road would be the ideal setting to test the initiative, with statistics from the Home Office revealing that during the 2010/11 season the club imposed just two banning orders. Within that season only 20 people were arrested.