So did the barriers at Burnden Park until 80,000 crammed in. And I well remember the incident at the Huddersfield cup match. For all I know, it might be a different story with dozens of people rushing against those flimsy looking fences.
Of more interest to me from a safety point of view is the continued insistence at this level of obscuring the windows in the CSH during play, especially with the issues over getting everyone served during half time. I hope the authorities will relent eventually, at least for some games at this level, and I would personally rate the increased risks from opening the windows at effectively zero. It might even be less of a risk, with less of a rush to try and get drinks during half time if people are not missing the match in the CSH (or alternatively allowed onto the terraces with hem). It seems something of an anomaly that big matches can be screened at crowded pubs with supporters of both teams mixing, but in the home only CSH, it is apparently too dangerous. Seriously, who is going to behave more dangerously if the windows are open there?
The shutters are down during play because that’s either the law, or league regulations, or both at this level and above. No alcohol can be consumed in view of the pitch while the game is in progress. It has been this way for many years. While the Fanzone was open last season, the stewards had a constant battle to stop people straying in to view of the pitch.
