Premier League: Why Newcastle and Sunderland don’t have fans outside the stadium

Implementation would cause a logistical headache for both clubs, with the potential to uproot around 3,000 season ticket holders at each club to create new outdoor areas.

Both clubs already cater for fans with disabilities, with a lift available at both stadiums. There are also new secure visitor facilities within both grounds.

Fans traveling to the Stadium of Light were accommodated in the South Stand until the start of the 2011–12 season. But the club moved the away section with the aim of improving the atmosphere inside the stadium.

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said the council had maintained the current arrangement for visiting fans to prioritize safety, with away fans separated as they exit the ground via the car park.

The statement added: “The club took the decision in order to ensure that all fans are able to enter and exit the stadium safely.”

“The decision, which was made several years ago, was supported by the local authority and Blue Light Services as part of the Safety Advisory Group. It has been accepted by the Premier League.”

Following their win in the final, Sunderland City Council sat down with the Safety Advisory Group and agreed to maintain the site for remote fans.

A club spokesman said: “The historic site provided significant benefits in terms of safety, segregation, matchday operations, emergency planning, stadium infrastructure and design, along with the fan experience.”

Stadium of Light officials are also taking steps to prioritize safety, with visitors prohibited from bringing coins, fumes and power banks into the ground for fear of hitting home fans with falling projectiles.

However, some have suggested that the exemption gives both clubs an advantage, with fans remaining away from the stadium, making it difficult for supporters to have their voices heard.

With the rule only applying to league matches, clubs can host fans away from the stadiums in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup. For example, Manchester City hands over the entire third tier of the South Stand to visiting fans.

Meanwhile, across Europe’s top leagues, it is not uncommon for traveling fans to be housed far from the action – notable examples being Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Milan’s San Siro.