Tonight Arsenal face Borussia Dortmund in their first Champions League group game. In the build up to the game Sky Sports News just showed a clip of the Dortmund 24,000 capacity standing tier in full voice. This stand is the largest standing section in European football, enabling rows of fans to stand in what would be presumed as safe conditions whilst enjoying the football. To add to that, German football also allows the drinking of beer within the inner sections of the stadium (i.e. the seating and standing sections) which is currently banned by the FA in all stadiums.What becomes clear by watching these videos, and learning of the regulations for fans in German football, is that the atmosphere at games is by far superior to anything that can be found in the English game.
That is not to say Anfield's "You'll Never Walk Alone" can't get the spine tingling, but as you will see, even the German's can compete with that:
For everything that the English game can offer in terms of an atmospheric stadium; St. James' Park, or, Upton Park in a full swing with "Forever Blowing Bubbles" (see below), it seems that the Dortmund fans alone could compete.
I'm genuinely excited for the game tonight (YES I am excited for an Arsenal game!?!?) with my newly informed knowledge on the Dortmund fans' singing section, yet also concerned by the route the English game has taken in response to the incidents at Hillsborough, Valley Parade and Heysel in the 1980's. I am in no way showing a lack of sensitivity to such events, i just believe that an alternate method of stadium management could successfully and safely be achieved despite such events.
Here is a link to the Safe Standing campaign with the Football Supporters' Trust:
http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding.php
Jesse
