Treatment of Disabled Fans Shameful - Foster

12.01.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 13th Aug 2008

Don Foster MP

18 out of 20 Premiership football clubs are failing to provide enough space for disabled fans, while also increasing the price of disabled season tickets, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

The research shows that:

• Only two Premiership clubs out of 20 meet government guidelines for the provision of disabled spaces in stadiums.

• One third of Premiership clubs have less than half of the recommended number of spaces

Premiership clubs have added only 19 new spaces in total this summer, despite a shortfall of almost 1,500

Season ticket prices for disabled fans have increased by over £25 on average compared to last season

Labour promised to deal with this issue 13 years ago, but has recently ministers admitted they don't even hold information on facilities for disabled supporters

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "It's shameful that so many Premiership clubs can't be bothered to provide enough space for disabled fans. Football clubs are taking disabled fans for granted."

"I'm staggered that, despite the huge demand for disabled spaces, many clubs aren't making any effort to encourage disabled fans into their grounds. Even for those lucky enough to get a space, ticket prices are rocketing.The Government promised to take action on this issue, but now ministers seem happy to ignore football clubs who are refusing to tow the line."