Fans To Stand At Wembley For First Time In 35 Years!
The Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle, to be held on Sunday 26th February, will feature safe standing areas, making it the first time in almost 35 years that fans are allowed to stand at a domestic English men’s final.
Wembley Stadium, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, seats 90,000 spectators and will have standing areas behind each goal, with 867 available to both clubs’ fans in the East and West Stands.
“In these areas, fans are allowed to stand for matches in allocated spaces behind a barrier or a rail which prevents them from falling forward. In all other areas of the stadium supporters must remain seated.” the EFL said in a statement.
Nearly 30 years ago, England's top division clubs all had their grounds converted to all-seater stadiums. This measure was introduced after Liverpool supporters were crushed in over-crowded and fenced-in areas at the Hillsborough Stadium in 1989, which resulted in 97 deaths.
In July 2022, the UK government said that EFL and Premier League Clubs would be permitted to introduce licensed standing in seated areas since the start of the 2022/23 season, with the likes of Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City offering safe standing in designated areas for home and away fans.
