Only last month, a BBC report revealed that only three Premier League stadiums provide the required number of wheelchair spaces.
Mike Penning, the disabilities minister, said a complete overhaul of grounds was required, “starting at the very top”.
He added: “The situation is currently woefully inadequate and it is not only wheelchair access that falls short, but access for people with all kinds of impairments.”
Guidelines on how football clubs in the UK should cater for disabled spectators have been in place since 2004.
On Saturday 12th April the story was picked up and covered on radio, tv and in newspapers. The BBC reported Football clubs across Britain must urgently redress the “woeful” lack of facilities for disabled fans at many stadiums, says a government minister.
Mike Penning, the disabilities minister, has written to every professional club in the country to highlight their legal obligations.
“I’m blowing the whistle on discrimination against disabled people by football bosses,” said Penning.
Joyce Cook, OBE, Chair of Level Playing Field, added: “The experience of disabled football fans varies across the country. That’s not acceptable and it’s time all football clubs took their legal obligations seriously.”
To read/ view a selection of stories see list below:
Channel 4 Evening News
http://www.channel4.com/news/football-disabled-no-go-britain-access-wheelchair
BBC News – Football clubs ‘named and shamed’ over disabled access http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27000607
‘Woefully inadequate’ facilities for disabled must improve – minister
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26994489
BBC Radio 5 live – Saturday Breakfast, 12/04/2014 – At 1 hour 37 minutes into the broadcast
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b040h2yl
BBC Radio 4 Today – At 42 minutes:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b040h14c
BBC Radio Manchester – Andy Crane, Wigan at Wembley- At 20 mins http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01wjst0