The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) say the Government remains “unconvinced” by the case for safe-standing in Premier League and Championship football grounds.

There have been growing debate among supporters in top clubs over reintroducing standing areas in English football grounds, with the Football Supporters’ Federation campaigning for trials at selected grounds in the Premier League and Championship.

All-seater stadia have been required by law in England’s top two divisions since the Taylor Report that followed the Hillsborough disaster.

Scottish champions Celtic implemented ‘rail seating’ at Parkhead before the start of the season whilst Premier League clubs have agreed to further talks with West Ham co-chairman David Gold said in November represented “the first steps towards safe standing”.

However the Government remain unmoved and in their Sporting Future report the DCMS offered no support for a wider introduction of safe standing.

The report said: “Since a rail seating section was installed at Celtic Park, there has been growing speculation that such accommodation could be introduced into Premier League and Championship football grounds.

“Government remains unconvinced by the case put forward for re-introducing standing accommodation at football grounds covered by the all-seater requirement, but will continue to monitor how it is working at Celtic.”

Last month the Arsenal Supporters Trust held a meeting to discuss safe standing at the Emirates and have urged fellow fans to have their say by completing a survey on the issue.

Supporters have until February 27 to complete the survey