Six football clubs from the English Premier League and Championship have applied to take part in a safe standing trial which is due to start on January 1.

The pilot scheme is scheduled to run until the end of the season and, if successful, will enable clubs to offer a licensed safe standing area. An SGSA spokesperson said: 

Applications to become early adopters of licensed standing in seated areas for the 2021-22 season are now closed. The SGSA is now reviewing the applications and will provide advice and recommendations to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for a final decision.

Since 1994, first and second-tier grounds in England and Wales have been required to be all-seated by law, following recommendations made in the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which resulted in the death of 97 Liverpool fans.

Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves have all had rail seating installed at their grounds.

Manchester United, Wolves, Manchester City and Tottenham are understood to be the  most likely to have applied for the safe standing scheme.

The list of approved clubs is expected to be announced next month.

Image: Safe standing area at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

@PanStadiaArena