Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2022 and comes into force on 25th July 2022.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

(3) In Schedule 1 to this Order—

(a) a “seat incorporating a barrier” is a seat that incorporates a barrier into its construction which limits the forward movement of spectators while allowing their lateral movement;

(b) a “seat with an independent barrier” is a seat located directly behind a barrier which does not form part of the seat and which limits the forward movement of spectators while allowing their lateral movement.

Direction

2.  The Secretary of State directs the Sports Grounds Safety Authority( 2) to include a condition imposing the requirements as respects the seating of spectators at designated football matches( 3) specified in Schedule 1 in any licence to admit spectators( 4) to premises specified in Schedule 2.

Revocations

3.  The Orders listed in Schedule 3 to this Order are revoked.

Review

4.—(1) The Secretary of State must, from time to time—

(a) carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in this Order; and

(b) publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2) The first report must be published before 7th December 2026.

(3) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

(4) Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015( 5) requires that a report published under this article must, in particular—

(a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph (1)(a);

(b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved;

(c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate; and

(d) if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involves less onerous regulatory provision.

(5) In this article, “ regulatory provision” has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (see section 32 of that Act).

Article 2

SCHEDULE 1 Requirements to be imposed

1.  Only seated accommodation is to be provided for spectators at a designated football match, except in areas of the premises where there are seats incorporating a barrier or seats with an independent barrier.

2.  Spectators are only to be admitted to watch a designated football match from seated accommodation, except where they are admitted to watch the designated football match from areas of the premises where there are seats incorporating a barrier or seats with an independent barrier.

Article 2

SCHEDULE 2 Premises in respect of which a condition imposing the requirements specified in Schedule 1 to this Order must be imposed

Article 3

SCHEDULE 3 Revocations

1.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 1994( 6).

2.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 1995( 7).

3.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 1996( 8).

4.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 1997( 9).

5.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 1998( 10).

6.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 1999( 11).

7.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2000( 12).

8.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2001( 13).

9.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2002( 14).

10.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2003( 15).

11.  The Football Spectators (Seating) (No.2) Order 2003( 16).

12.  Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2004( 17).

13.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2005( 18).

14.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2006( 19).

15.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2007( 20).

16.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2008( 21).

17.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2010( 22).

18.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2011( 23).

19.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2012( 24).

20.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2013( 25).

21.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2016( 26).

22.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2020( 27).

23.  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2021( 28).

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order directs the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to include in any licence to admit spectators (as defined in section 1(7) of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (c. 37)) to the premises listed in Schedule 2, a condition imposing the requirements specified in Schedule 1 as respects the seating of spectators at designated football matches at those premises. “Designated football matches” are those association football matches designated by the Secretary of State, under powers conferred by section 1(2) of that Act.

This Order replaces conditions as respects the seating of spectators at designated football matches previously imposed in relation to those premises and revokes the Orders listed in Schedule 3.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.