Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Sports Ground Safety Authority has responsibility for (a) the safety of pitch-adjacent walls and barriers and (b) other aspects of player and athlete security within stadiums; and whether there are minimum and evidence-based standards in place to protect player safety.

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount.

Sports pitch perimeter safety is primarily the responsibility of the relevant national governing body of the sport, and the relevant competition/event organisers of the fixture.

It is for individual clubs to carry out risk assessments and put in place mitigations that will improve player safety.

The Sports Grounds Safety Authority has regulatory responsibility to issue licences which permit relevant football grounds to admit spectators, and to oversee local authorities in their duties around related safety certification.