Why Andy Burnham is wrong to change Emirates Stadium laws as Arsenal fans pushback on proposals

Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and all other clubs in the English footballing pyramid could be subject to a law change that affects the match-going experience of supporters at the ground. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has spoken about the ban that prevents individuals from bringing alcoholic drinks into the stands. Currently, fans are only permitted to drink alcohol outside the ground and on the club concourses into the stadium . Supporters are not permitted to take alcoholic beverages into their match seats. The same limitations are, however, not in place at other sporting events such as rugby or cricket. This is something the prime minister wishes to change. FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE ! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page "I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different,” he said while on a United Nations trip in New York. “And I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination. There are different ways it could be done. It could happen on a trial basis. "But I'm not going to back away from what's been a long-held view of mine. I don't see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently." From an Arsenal perspective, there has been some immediate pushback from supporters. football.london reached out to the supporters group RedAction, who are responsible for the organisation of Arsenal fan events, such as the pre-match ‘greet the bus’ spectacle and implantation of major TiFos are the Emirates Stadium. “Regular match goers have dealt with this rule for more than 40 years, and we have no desire to see it changed,” RedAction stated. “Football is not a game with multiple stoppages, timeouts etc where there are defined pauses to enable someone to go and get a beer – Watch the action, engage in the atmosphere, follow the game instead of hopping in and out at every opportunity to grab a drink. "‘Limbs’ are so much more fun when not getting drenched in £8.50 pints of lager. Save that for Boxpark clips from youngsters on TikTok. Boots on the ground matchday fans love a pre-match beer, a half-time beer, and a post-match beer. In between these, we just want to watch the game and support our team.” Arsenal reached the UEFA Champions League final and screened the match at the Emirates Stadium for thousands of supporters. Charles Watts, formerly of football.london and an Arsenal season ticket holder, was in attendance. “I thought it would be nice to be able to take a pint with me to my actual seat, but it really wasn’t,” Watts explained. “First of all, the one I did initially take in ended up all over the place after being kicked all over in the celebrations after Havertz’s goal so it was a waste of money anyway, but it was more than that. “The smell, the stickiness under feet, fans getting up and down constantly, shuffling towards the bars. It just really wasn’t great. Yes, it was a boiling hot day and people had been drinking for hours before the game, but you could really see there were fans around you who were far more ‘wasted’ than usual. That is something you are just going to get if this change does go through. It’s inevitable. “And you could feel the impact those extra drinks had after the game. Obviously, we had just lost the Champions League final in the most painful way possible, so everyone was gutted, but there was an extra edge to the atmosphere outside the ground as people started leaving that just felt more alcohol induced. “I’m not talking about everyone, obviously, but there was just a different sort of vibe in the air. I know plenty will disagree, but I just don’t see the point of this change. I love a few drinks before a game as much as anyone, but is going 45 minutes without one really that difficult? Surely there are far more pressing issues that could be sorted if Andy Burnham really wants to help football fans?” Charnjeet Singh Bedi, who also attended the Champions League final screening as a season ticket holder, made further points against the proposals. “Personally, I’m not a fan as I wouldn’t want alcohol landing on children, or people who don’t drink alcohol,” Singh Bedi said. “I hate it when alcohol lands on me, too, and I drink. “While at the Champions League final screening at the Emirates, my pint actually went flying. Not because I threw it, but because my arm got hit during Kai Havertz’s goal celebration. “There’s also going to be fans that will potentially throw beer at players from their own team, and the opposition. There way more cons than pros for this.” From a personal point of view, while I too appreciate the nicety of being able to sit in the stands with a cold pint and watch a game, which I have done at the cricket and the rugby, we cannot pretend that the footballing culture and vibe is the same as either of the aforementioned sports. It isn’t, and the rules, therefore, should be appropriately proportionate. Fans having the chance to drink in pubs before games or inside the stadium on the concourses, and at half-time and full-time is plenty. The 90 minutes should be reserved for watching, cheering, and celebrating the game. We’ve all seen the scenes at fan parks during the World Cup, or even at watch parties for Arsenal matches. It has almost become part of the watch culture that drinks are thrown. Parents taking their children to their first matches shouldn’t have to be thinking that their little ones might need to be shielded by a flying cup of what you hope is just beer when a goal goes in. Keep the watch party atmosphere and the in-stadium atmospheres separate and the cultures separate. Fans should be able to enjoy a game of football without worrying about the drawbacks that allowing alcohol into stadiums brings.