§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further discussions he has had since his statement to the House on 6th April on football hooliganism; if new measures will be in force before the start of the new season; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have had discussions with the football authorities, the secretaries of Division One clubs and representatives of Chelsea and Manchester United football clubs. My Working398W Party on Football Crowd behaviour recently re-emphasised the comprehensive guidance which it issued to clubs before the 1976–77 season on the need for ground improvements—notably segregation of rival supporters and effective protection of the pitch—and thorough advance planning for every match in consultation with the police, transport operators and official supporters' organisations. These recommendations are already contained in the revised "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Football)" which provides guidance to local authorities in carrying out their responsibilities under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975.
As regards new measures, the control on the sale of terrace tickets to Manchester United or Chelsea supporters for away matches involving their clubs is to be modified. All such matches are to be all-ticket until further notice. The home clubs concerned will be responsible for the distribution of all tickets including any allocation they may decide to make to the visiting club, which on receiving an allocation will be responsible for the sale and recording of the tickets. Both home and away clubs are asked to sell tickets only to registered supporters such as season ticket holders, shareholders and members of official supporters' clubs.
These arrangements will apply immediately to matches involving Manchester United and Chelsea Football Clubs, but the working party strongly advises all clubs to consider the restriction of tickets to registered supporters and all-ticket arrangements for potentially vulnerable matches. It considers that effective organisation of transport to away matches is crucial to control, and has re-emphasised its recommendation that match and travel tickets should be sold as one package wherever possible. Transport operators are asked to investigate the possibility of providing connecting bus services between grounds and railway stations where these are some distance apart.
The working party's previous recommendations on ticket and travel arrangements for matches in Europe will remain in force. The football authorities will re-emphasise this to all clubs competing in European competitions during the 1977–78 season.