Tonights Manchester Evening News reports that Members of Stand Up Sit Down, a campaign that promotes standing at football matches, are objecting to Rod’s concert at Manchester City’s, Manchester Stadium on safety grounds and have accused authorities of gross hypocrisy,
The football fans say that fans who attend concerts are given preferential treatment by being allowed to stand and dance while football fans face ejection if they stand up at matches.
The group are pointing to what they claim are scores of injuries at gigs held at the venue to show concerts are more dangerous than football matches.
They have claimed that at three Oasis performances in 2004 there was an average of 143 injuries per night compared with six per football match.They also claim that the government does not allow football fans to stand in small, purpose-built standing areas, as used in Germany, but will allow more than 30,000 music fans to stand on the pitch, without any form of crowd control.
A council spokesman told the Manchester Evening News: “Any application by Manchester City to hold a concert at the stadium requires the club to submit a detailed plan showing how they will ensure public safety.
“Each event is judged on its merits and safety is always a paramount consideration.”