Keir Starmer has condemned Andy Burnham’s call for football fans to be allowed to booze on the terraces at matches.
The PM’s spokesman defended the ‘sensible’ ban on alcohol within view of the pitch – which has been in force in England for 40 years to curb hooliganism.
‘Police chiefs have warned against a relaxing of the rules and we think that’s sensible to follow,’ No10 said.
The rebuke came after Mr Burnham – on track to take over from Sir Keir in a fortnight – kicked off a debate about the restrictions on the eve of England’s latest World Cup match.
Legislation from 1985 means that alcohol cannot be consumed within view of the pitch at most professional men’s football matches.
But Mr Burnham raised the prospect of that being overturned in a social media post from a rugby league match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium – also the home of Everton FC.
Keir Starmer (pictured) has condemned Andy Burnham’s call for football fans to be allowed to booze on the terraces at matches
Andy Burnham raised the prospect of the football alcohol ban being overturned in a video posted from a rugby league match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
Turning the camera to show Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram holding a pint of lager, Mr Burnham said: ‘I’ve only got one question though about this day today… how come these lads can do that in my seat here when we can’t do that at an Everton home game?
‘There’s something wrong there, we need to take a look at that.’
Mr Burnham makes great play of his fondness for football. An Everton fan, he was a member of the notorious New Labour ‘Demon Eyes’ team alongside the likes of Ed Balls and James Purnell – both now tipped to be part of his Government.
Both he and Sir Keir – an ardent Arsenal supporter – stayed up last night to watch England triumph over Mexico.
Labour MP for York Outer Luke Charters – a close ally of Mr Burnham – previously called for trials on lifting the restrictions.
He made a similar argument that spectators at other sports are free to drink, urging a ‘modern approach to a modern game’.
‘You look at fans in Germany and in Italy, they are still able to have a beer while they are cheering on their team,’ he told the Commons last year.
However, he stressed that family zones should be kept alcohol-free.
Trials of allowing alcohol in view of the pitch have taken place in the women’s game, which is not covered by the ban.
The fan-led review of football governance in 2021 called for the law to be re-examined.
