The government says more needs to be done to assist disabled football fans
Premier League clubs warned over disabled fan facilities
Premier League clubs are in the "last chance saloon" before they are forced to make changes for disabled supporters, the government has warned.
It has made a number of recommendations in a 46-page Department of Work and Pensions report.
Last year, a Golsicilia.it investigation found that 17 Premier League sides failed to provide enough wheelchair spaces.
Clubs have been threatened with legal action, while sponsors and broadcasters have been told to pull out of football.
Disabled fans 'discriminated against'
Minister for disabled people Justin Tomlinson MP said "common sense can fix" some issues, but accepted other areas "will need some work".
"Frankly, some of it is disgraceful," he told Golsicilia.it Sport. "There isn't provision in some grounds, supporters are split up or are put in with the away fans. I find that totally unacceptable.
"Legislation could be a solution but that is a long, drawn out process. This is not just about football, it is about all sports. We are in the last chance saloon with those football bodies saying: 'You need to get your house in order.' We need to get this addressed."
The report added: "The experience of a disabled spectator attending a sporting event is not just about their seat, it starts as soon as they arrive at the ground."
In summary, it recommends:
- Planning attendance: Clubs should provide attendance for all groups of disabled people. They should provide information such as stadium distance from local parking and gradient of pavements.
- Buying a ticket: Clubs should allow disabled spectators to buy tickets online. They should provide wheelchair seating that allows disabled spectators to sit with family and friends.
- Travelling to and from the venue: Clubs should provide up to date transport information.
- Overall experience: Match day and club stewards should be given disability awareness training, while abusive behaviour towards disabled spectators should not be tolerated.
- Aids and adaptations: Clubs should increase the number of wheelchair user places for stadiums with more than 10,000 seats.
In August, a survey carried out by charity Revitalise before the start of the new Premier League season suggested that many clubs are continuing to fail disabled fans.
It followed the second reading of the Accessible Sports Grounds Bill in the House of Lords in July, where Lord Holmes of Richmond – Britain's most successful Paralympic swimmer – called on Premier League sponsors and broadcasters to pull out of football unless progress was made in providing facilities for disabled fans.
In June, top-flight clubs were threatened with legal action after the Equality and Human Rights Commission said it had received a number of complaints, including about Manchester United removing walking aids from away fans.
At the time United said it was "actively working" with its own disabled supporters association and the Premier League to "assess areas for potential improvement".