You can beg all you like, it wont change the facts.

Would the OP's mate have expected a traffic warden to allow them to park in a disabled space, because he had a temporary mobility issue?

I think your confusing my argument with something else, I'm not defending the OP's mate right to sit in the disabled area, I think the stewards were right. I disagreed with your statement that he/she should have not have attended because they were unable to bend their leg/put weight on it as they should have considered the risks they were putting others in, in the event of an evacuation.

Would you not consider your own vulnerability, for the sake of an RL game?

Anyway, it's opinion, they will always differ.

I once had to sweep the paths in hyde park as a pennance for being naughty does that count

however in fairness to standee I agree the last place I would be with a cage on my leg is at a rugby match !! seems tozz to me to even think about going and then whine about it

Not sure the legislation was the same, didn't you say good morning to Mary Poppins and the Sweep every morning?

What about older people or heavily pregnant women, or small children...Ban 'em all because they cannot move quick enough in the event of an evacuation

No, but they can move without being carried.

He did not have to be carried he was on crutches.

I doubt the bloke with the leg brace etc is a qualified stadium manager either. He felt up to going and it is down to the onsite staff to refuse admission down to safety etc or do we have to make our own unqualified judgements on whether we are a safety hazard or not???

And you point is what...so his mates give him a hand up and down some steps...Parents carry children...people help aged people etc, ...Your claim is these people should all be banned in case of an evacuation

When booking a concert once at Sheffield Arena, I phoned and explained my situation. I am ambulent disabled, can manage a few steps but cannot walk all the way upto the top row of Sheffield Arena (those were the only tickets available to me) I was told although I can manage a few steps I would not be allowed to be seated "up in the Gods" because I would be an evacuation risk. Its not just about being carried about, its about how quickly you can move and how much you would be a risk to the other people around you if for instance, they were behind you.

I got my tickets in the disabled viewing area which at Sheffield is all on one level and have specialised staff on hand to assist.

All your mate had to do was hire a wheelchair for the match which would have been the sensible thing to do if he couldn't walk or bend his leg, then exchange his ticket for a wheelchair space down at the front which is what I did after my hip replacments.

Thats far too sensible and wouldn't quench peoples thirst for an argument!