Burnham backs lifting restrictions on alcohol at English soccer matches

NEW YORK, Sept 23 : British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering allowing fans to drink alcohol while watching men's soccer live in England on a trial basis, arguing that the four-decade-old restrictions are outdated and unfairly discriminate against fans of the sport. 

The consumption of alcohol in the stands of the top five tiers of English men's soccer has been banned since 1985, when fighting between rival fans at matches was common. Fans are allowed to drink alcohol when they are away from the pitch.

"I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different," Burnham, a lifelong soccer fan, told reporters travelling with him to New York for this week's United Nations General Assembly.

"I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination. There are different ways it could be done. It could happen on a trial basis."

Burnham took over the premiership in July from Keir Starmer, vowing to boost the popularity of the ruling Labour Party in the face of a challenge from Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK, which is popular among blue-collar voters.

In response to Burnham's remarks, a spokesperson for the UK Football Policing Unit said alcohol plays a significant role in soccer-related violence and it would be "irresponsible to fuel this" by allowing alcohol consumption during matches.

LIMITS ARE A LEGACY OF 1980s SOCCER VIOLENCE 

The introduction of all-seat stadiums, tougher policing and CCTV surveillance, alongside soccer's commercial transformation, has helped reduce violence at matches since 1985, when 39 people died after fighting broke out before the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus at the Heysel Stadium in Belgium.

English clubs were banned from European competitions for