Selfie sticks are now so mainstream that Carphone Warehouse has started selling them, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s in favour. Premier League football clubs aren’t big fans, as they’ve started banning them from their stadiums.
Arsenal and Tottenham are the first two clubs to instigate a ban, according to The Mirror. The reason? They fear they could be used as weapons.
An Arsenal spokesperson told the Camden New Journal: “We can confirm that ‘selfie sticks’ are banned on match days at Emirates Stadium. The club’s ground regulations prohibit any object that could be used as a weapon or could compromise public safety.”
You can use one on a stadium tour, however.
In response to a fan’s email, Jake from the customer care team at Tottenham wrote: “Upon review, “selfie sticks” have now been banned from entering White Hart Lane. All stewards will be briefed prior to the next Home fixture.”
So there you have it. Next time you want a snap of yourself enjoying the footie, you’ll have to stretch your arm. Or maybe just get on with enjoying the match.
Read more: Nixie is a wearable drone that takes selfies
Last summer, Manchester United banned fans from taking iPads to matches. A statement on the club’s website read: “As a result of the latest security advice, large electronic devices including laptops and tablets will be added to the existing list of prohibited items for match days at Old Trafford.”
The statement added this was because of security fears, and it put the safety and security of the club’s supporters as its number one priority.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.