Premier League clubs "have agreed to further talks on safe standing areas in stadiums after meeting in London on Thursday," according to SKY SPORTS. Scottish Premiership side Celtic has introduced it to a section of its ground this season "while a number of clubs in Germany have had designated standing areas for several years." The Celtic Park trial has been looked on as a "great success" with a number of Premier League clubs "having been impressed" on visits to the stadium during matchdays. Clubs discussed the issue "for first time collectively" on Thursday and although the talks were described as "cautious" and "complex," the idea "has not been dismissed and they have agreed to a wider study." A decision is "then expected to be made on whether to make a formal recommendation" to change the law following a report into the Hillsborough Disaster. However, EPL CEO Richard Scudamore said that there is "little prospect" of the government changing its stance on all-seater stadia in the near future. He said, "Clearly there is a legal position at the moment and we are required by law to have all-seater stadia and there is no prospect with the government of that changing at the moment. But of course we're not immune to the fact that this is a topic and it is in discussion with our clubs, all of whom are looking at the issue." All-seater regulations were introduced in England in '89, following an inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster, and the Hillsborough Family Support Group "remains opposed to a return to standing areas of any kind" (SKY SPORTS, 11/17).
