Idiotic EFL & FA rule

[3swan]

If totally true

Blackpool FC Hotel's shut-curtains policy during games is 'nuts'

Darren Dowling stayed at Blackpool FC Hotel "specifically for the experience" of seeing the action.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Swanjaxs]

It's the same down the Swansea.Com, if you hire a private box you have to close the curtains and sit outside on the seats during the game. Someone actually comes along a few times during the game to check. One of the lads was caught peeping through the curtains during the game and was told if he did it again he'd be thrown out.

 

[monmouth]

I was thinking of putting curtains on my TV to shut earlier this season.

 

[Darran]

I was actually talking to our old friend SwanGirl on X about a stupid rule.

A few weeks ago there was a clash of heads between one of our players and one of theirs,both were down and the physios came on,I know a rule was brought in to stop players faking injury and they now send players off to the touchline for 30 seconds to give the opposition a tiny advantage before coming back on but the ref sent both players off.
Wtf did that achieve?

 

[Ringwood]

Whatever happened to Swangirl ? She was very entertaining and knowledgeable.

I met her a few times at away games.

 

[swansvalleyjack]

I seem to recall in the away end at Old Trafford, I was at one the rear seats in row Z, and right at the back of us were United fans behind glass screens, watching the game . Right bunch of wankers they were too until Gylfi scored

But was that glass screen there anyone - have I got it wrong ..??

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I don’t think this is just an FA/EFL rule as the articles states. I believe the law states that it’s illegal to drink alcohol within sight of the pitch.

 

[3swan]

I don’t think this is just an FA/EFL rule as the articles states. I believe the law states that it’s illegal to drink alcohol within sight of the pitch.

Could well be that but imo not thought through properly. You would have thought it was meant to cover within the stadium.


What about the ones who stand on the hill behind the goal at Northampton

 

[3swan]

Just looked it up, Sports Ground Safety Authority 1985 Act

• the consumption of alcohol within view of the playing area including, during the restricted period (15 minutes before the start of the event to 15 minutes after the end of the event), rooms within the ground from which the event may be directly viewed;

Which begs the question is the hotel included?

 

[Squarebear]

I seem to recall in the away end at Old Trafford, I was at one the rear seats in row Z, and right at the back of us were United fans behind glass screens, watching the game . Right bunch of wankers they were too until Gylfi scored

But was that glass screen there anyone - have I got it wrong ..??

Yes, might be thick plastic. It seems a bit of a crap viewing option to me, especially if fans in front of the box stand on their seats.

 

[Longlostjack]

I don’t think this is just an FA/EFL rule as the articles states. I believe the law states that it’s illegal to drink alcohol within sight of the pitch.

Bonkers Britain

 

[swansvalleyjack]

Yes, might be thick plastic. It seems a bit of a crap viewing option to me, especially if fans in front of the box stand on their seats.

Yes you're right, as it happens some of our fans did stand on seats and the Utd fans behind were going nuts. It is a stupid viewing area for them tbf. Funny as f**k though

 

[magicdaps]

Just looked it up, Sports Ground Safety Authority 1985 Act

• the consumption of alcohol within view of the playing area including, during the restricted period (15 minutes before the start of the event to 15 minutes after the end of the event), rooms within the ground from which the event may be directly viewed;

Which begs the question is the hotel included?

But the ridiculousness of it is that despite being called the Sports Ground Safety Act, it only applies to one sport - football. It also only applies to the top five tiers of English football, below that it's not in place.

So you could be in the same hotel, allowed to watch a game with the same amount of people in the ground, if it was a National League North game.

 

[MajorR]

Just looked it up, Sports Ground Safety Authority 1985 Act

• the consumption of alcohol within view of the playing area including, during the restricted period (15 minutes before the start of the event to 15 minutes after the end of the event), rooms within the ground from which the event may be directly viewed;

Which begs the question is the hotel included?

The answer is yes. The legislation applies to league matches, FACup, UEFA matches and some non league matches. The legislation is 40 years old and forms part of the wider football legislation introduced in the 80’s to target hooliganism.

I suspect the bit about the boxes and hospitality was an oversight as it wasn’t such a big thing in those days, but now hospitality was is big business and there doesn’t seem to be an appetite to change it.

Clubs can’t afford to ignore the legislation as they could potentially get a big fine and lose their licence to sell alcohol which would really hit the bank balance.