The Premier League is celebrating a record broadcasting deal in excess of £5.136 billion with additional revenue expected to follow and has pledged to reinvest income across the game including the delivery of ‘world class stadiums’. Yet conditions for disabled fans at many PL clubs remain woefully poor according to a BBC report last year.
As such, Level Playing Field (LPF) is calling on the Premier League not to forget its disabled fans when distribution of this new revenue stream begins. LPF Chair, Joyce Cook OBE said: “Disabled fans have endured poor conditions at many top clubs for far too long. So, we are now calling on the Premier League to ring fence just 1% of this new TV funding for 2016/17 to ensure that all professional clubs in the Premier and Football Leagues spend the money on improving access for disabled people at all grounds. All we ask is that clubs should finally at least meet football’s own standards as set out in the Accessible Stadia. Once fixed, then ongoing improvements at stadiums for all fans (including access) should be a natural part of each club’s yearly business planning. It’s not an unreasonable request – it’s time – let’s #justdoit !”
For more information on this story, see recent House of Lords Debate: House of Lords Question – Accessibility of Sports Stadia
12.2.2015