Burnham: I want to bring back drinking at football matches

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wants to overturn England’s ban on drinking in view of the football pitch, arguing it unfairly targets football fans compared with supporters of rugby and cricket. Speaking to reporters at the UN summit in New York, Burnham called the current rules “discrimination,” and suggested changes could be tested on a trial basis. Under a law passed in 1985, drinking in sight of the pitch is illegal, a measure introduced after hooliganism and the Taylor Report following the Hillsborough disaster. Burnham noted he has previously called the ban “wrong.” A 2021 fan-led review recommended the rules be reviewed, but police chiefs have opposed changes due to the risk of renewed misconduct. Scottish stadiums have experimented with alcohol access before kick-off, and some Hampden Park matches this year allowed sales. The Football Supporters’ Association welcomed Burnham’s comments, while football policing officials urged caution, calling changes “incredibly rash.”