Sheffield United have issued a communication to supporters this afternoon, amid concerns the Kop could be shut down at Bramall Lane.
The Blades have issued a statement on their official website to warn supporters that any more persistent standing and not sitting in the correct seat could result in more severe punishment. For now, the Blades board have decided not to sell any further matchday tickets on the Kop. It is hoped they can review procedures with less fans inside.
A key part of the statement from United outlined key safety concerns.
“Both the council and SGSA have been in contact asking the club to intervene on matters of safety within the Kop before they take further action. Should safety procedures not be followed, blocks of seats – or a full stand – can be closed. It is unfortunate that this approach is fast becoming a reality and the repercussions will effect a significant number of supporters,” the statement read
“The club’s safety team has made numerous attempts to resolve the situation, including marked signage, terms of business and clearly displayed ground regulations, along with increased stewarding and safety procedures. It has now been agreed that no matchday tickets will be sold for the Kop stand for the foreseeable future to enable the club to review operations.”
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Sheff U News View: Tradition Meets Safety
Anyone who has been to Bramall Lane regularly will know that the back of the Kop is where the majority of chants start and where the best atmosphere is. It’s long been accepted that the back few rows are for those who stand up.
However, this appears to now compromise the safety of other supporters in the ground and the club appear to have been left with little opton.
Nobody wants to see the Kop partially closed or even fully closed. With a bit of extra work and co-operation, this can hopefully be a small issue that is ironed out quickly.