28 Aug 2009Football clubs encouraged to pay for extra policing around stadiums

Football Technology and Stadia

Football clubs should be responsible for footing the bill to pay for police to monitor public transport and the town centres close to their football stadia, it has been suggested.

After fan problems marred the recent League Cup clash between West Ham United and Millwall, it has been argued that clubs should pay to keep supporters safe and away from trouble.

Local police forces across the country believe that clubs should provide more of a financial outlay, with a review being conducted by the Home Office Select Committee.

However, Bill Bush, the English Premier League's director of public policy, believes that not all people walking close to a football ground are necessarily football fans.

The Guardian reports that he said: "When fans are moving to and fro between town centres, transport intersections, hubs and the ground, they are there as citizens rather than as precisely taking part in being spectators."

Meanwhile, he also feels that the figure of around £700 million provided in football finance each year as a whole by clubs in taxes could help to cover the cost of the policing.

West Ham United defeated Millwall 3-1 after extra time in the League Cup second round clash thanks to extra time goals from Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines.

Written by Mark Thompson

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