Premier League stand firm

The Premier League sees no reason to change the current rules which ban standing areas in top-flight grounds.

The Football League is to ask the Government to review the laws which were brought in after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, while Aston Villa said they want to trial the use of 'rail-seats' to promote the introduction of safe standing in the Premier League.

A Premier League spokesman told Press Association Sport however: "We support the current legislation and see no reason to change it."

Several top-flight clubs including Manchester City are understood to be open-minded about allowing rail seating - where seats can be locked upright to allow standing and there are safety barriers between each row.

Hillsborough cost the lives of 96 Liverpool fans and the Merseyside club back the Hillsborough Family Support Group, which has voted unanimously to oppose any reintroduction of standing areas.

On Wednesday, Bristol City installed a block of rail seats at their Ashton Gate home, the first at an English football ground - but only Bristol Rugby supporters will be able to use them.

Aston Villa's football operations manager Lee Preece confirmed his club are keen to further the campaign.

He said: "We at Aston Villa have said we are quite happy to use an area of Villa Park as a trial so the Premier League, the authorities and the government can see a safe standing area in practice."

The Football Supporters' Federation has long been an advocate of rail seating and believes that the green light from the Football League's 72 clubs at their meeting last week is a big step forward.