The head of policy at the Premier League has revealed that clubs which don’t comply with requirements to accommodate disabled supporters could face sanctions – but played down the possibility of large fines or docked point.s
Addressing the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee this morning (18 October), Bill Bush said that while the Premier League was exploring a “wide range of sanctions” for clubs that do not adhere to the Accessible Stadium Guide by an August 2017 deadline, the most severe punishment the body could administer would be a £25,000 fine.
When asked by the panel if the league could look at larger fines or docking points, Bush said that those decisions would have to be made by an independent panel.
He also said club stadiums would be reviewed on a “case-by-case basis” and would be considered against the “reasonable adjustments” clubs could be expected to make depending on the size and location of their stadium.
Bush began the parliamentary session by telling MPs that “several Premier League clubs are short” of the requirement around 1 per cent of capacity being earmarked for disabled bays.
Clubs who are short – and are likely to be short when the deadline passes in August – will be revealed in January 2017.
However, Bush stated that “discussions will continue” with non-compliant clubs beyond that deadline to improve the overall landscape for disabled spectators.
Several times Bush was asked why Premier League clubs, for all their wealth, could not be compliant with the amount of resources they had. He responded by claiming that it was not a case of lacking resources, but other nuanced difficulties.
Bush used Watford FC, AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC as examples.
The former, said Bush, had an antiquated ground and was having trouble building platforms for disabled individuals, although it was working with it independent disabled supporters’ group to improve the experience.
Bush added that Bournemouth had trouble because of the small size of its ground and a landowner that won’t give permission for improvement works. Liverpool, said the policy boss, was looking to refurbish or rebuild its stands and would use the opportunity to improve disabled access.
Asked whether the Accessible Stadium Guide was “dragging clubs kicking and screaming” towards compliance, Bush said: “It would be utterly wrong to characterise the clubs as docile.”
In May, it was revealed that at least eight Premier League clubs were not expected to be compliant by the deadline.
Level Playing Field chair Joyce Cook said the situation was “worrying” and “obscene”.
