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Football stadium booze ban could be axed as next PM Andy Burnham slams 40-year rule

Incoming PM Andy Burnham has sparked hope for football fans by slamming the 40-year stadium booze ban as "wrong" amid calls for supporters to be treated like adults

[Andy Burnham has sparked hope for football fans by slamming the 40-year stadium booze ban]

Andy Burnham has sparked hope for football fans by slamming the 40-year stadium booze ban(Image: CameraSport via Getty Image)

Football fans could soon be supping pints in their seats after incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham slammed the 40-year stadium booze ban. The future PM branded the draconian restrictions "wrong" and questioned why footie fans are treated differently to supporters of other sports.

Drinking alcohol in view of the pitch was made illegal back in 1985 in a desperate bid to clamp down on hooliganism. But after decades of dry stands, campaigners are demanding the rules be hauled into the 21st century.

Die-hard Evertonian Burnham dropped the massive hint while watching a rugby league match at the club's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

[Drinking alcohol in view of the pitch was made illegal back in 1985]

Drinking alcohol in view of the pitch was made illegal back in 1985(Image: Offside via Getty Images)

He made his comments in a social media clip while gesturing to Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotherham, who was happily clutching a pint.

Burnham said: "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."

The lifelong Toffees fan is expected to march into Downing Street on July 20 after Labour MPs overwhelmingly backed him to replace Sir Keir Starmer. No other rivals have yet thrown their hat into the ring to challenge him for the top job.

[Andy Burnham has branded the booze ban as 'wrong' and questioned how footie fans are treated]

Andy Burnham has branded the booze ban as 'wrong' and questioned how footie fans are treated(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

While Burnham has kept his cards close to his chest regarding his exact No10 masterplan, his booze ban broadside has sent shockwaves through the terraces.

Lager-loving MPs have already jumped on the comments, with York Outer MP Luke Charters leading the charge to get the beer flowing again.

The politician told The Sun: "It's absolutely cracking news that Andy Burnham is backing the campaign to lift the ban on fans drinking in the stands.

"The current ban is a relic of Thatcherite-era snobbery about working-class football fans. It's long past time we treated supporters like adults, just as we do in other sports here in the UK and in leagues around the world.

"It's baffling that at the same seat in the stadium in my constituency you can have a pint watching York Knights but can't when watching York City. Let's give hardworking footie fans back something that should never have been taken away."

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