Victory for disabled football supporters following Telegraph Sport campaign

Chelsea have staved off a formal legal investigation by agreeing to a legally-binding promise that will ensure all of English football’s biggest clubs are now committed to providing minimum standards for disabled fans.

Following a series of Telegraph Sport investigations, Chelsea have accepted a need for urgent change at Stamford Bridge and have pledged to carry out major renovations that will double the provision for wheelchair users ahead of the 2018-19 season. Chelsea have consistently pointed to the age and structure of their stadium in explaining why they had failed to meet guidelines for disabled access that were first drawn up in 2003 but had promised to reach this standard at any new stadium. 

As revealed by Telegraph Sport in September, that stance meant breaking a Premier League promise in 2015 to collectively meet the Accessible Stadia Guide’s minimum recommendations by August 2017. 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was preparing to investigate whether clubs were acting unlawfully in respect of the Equality Act that requires service providers to make “reasonable adjustments” to ensure they do not discriminate. Yet following months of talks, Chelsea and the EHRC are now preparing a legal agreement that will ensure there is no formal investigation provided a series of changes are made. These include increasing the wheelchair spaces from 107 to at least 212 and also making these additions through various stands and vantage-points.

Chelsea’s decision represents a major victory for disabled fans and follows enormous change elsewhere in the Premier League that has already led to 1,000 extra wheelchair spaces since Telegraph Sport began its investigations in 2015.  The alterations have cost millions across the clubs, although the Premier League are adamant that financial considerations were never the barrier.

“This news really is fantastic,” said Lisa Hayden, a Chelsea fan who has been in a wheelchair for 12 years after suffering three brain haemorrhages and two strokes.

This will help all disabled supporters | Chelsea fan Lisa Hayden

“It would have been easy to keep pointing towards a new stadium but Chelsea are going to make a big financial investment now in improving facilities that will be knocked down at some stage over the next few years. It is still right that the club meets their obligations and pledge to disabled fans. Football can be a lifeline in terms of getting out and about for people in a wheelchair and this will make a very real difference.” 

Nearly 1,000 more spaces available since May 2015

Hayden said that the wider experience for disabled fans in the Premier League had been transformed in recent months. Every Premier League ground will also this year offer Changing Places facilities which provide larger spaces than regular accessible toilets.

A total of 12 clubs currently meet the recommended space for wheelchair users and the others have now provided firm plans to meet those guidelines.

How the big six acted have acted since Telegraph investigatons

When Telegraph Sport first reported on the issue in May 2015, just three clubs met the minimum standard for space and only two provided a Changing Places facility. The situation was described by campaigners as “a national scandal” and was debated in parliament amid an attempt to bring legislation that would have closed some stadiums. 

The Government issued frequent warnings while the EHRC stressed that it was ready to use its full legal powers. They continue to monitor clubs and questions still hang over Manchester United, who have now completed the necessary structural work but do not plan to make it fully operational in the Premier League until 2020.

We just wanted to enjoy game as a family | United fan Martin Emery

There are also concerns over ticketing policies at United. United have said that the stadium timescale is to ensure the safe and smooth integration of disabled fans and they are trialling the additional wheelchair space. The Premier League has given promoted clubs two full seasons, with Burnley and Newcastle intending to comply this year and Huddersfield by 2019.