In an effort to break taboos and provide more inclusive spaces to football fans, MU will be offering men who suffer from urinary incontinence sanitary facilities similar to that for women. — dpa
Manchester United (MU) have signed up to become the first English Premier League club to offer male sanitary facilities.
The Red Devils will provide designated bins and products such as pads.
This is at a time when a new study from non-governmental organisation Prostate Cancer UK and hygiene services provider phs Group published Nov 26 (2024) found that half of those with male bladder weakness attend fewer games due to a lack of facilities and anxiety about leaks.
One in seven (14%) said they had stopped going to football games altogether.
MU have signed up to become the first Gold Bog Standard club – the minimum standards Prostate Cancer UK and phs Group are asking organisations to implement to support men with incontinence.
One in eight men will get prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence is a side effect of life-saving treatment for the illness for lots of men.
As many as two-thirds (65%) of those who receive treatment for prostate cancer will become incontinent – some for a few weeks, months or years, while others may live with the condition forever.
Prostate Cancer UK support services head Nick Ridgman said: “Manchester United’s commitment to supporting men with incontinence is a fantastic step forward and we hope their action will inspire change across the whole football community, from the top of the Premier League to local non-league games.
“By giving men access to the basic facilities they need, we hope more men will feel confident to get back in the game and back to watching live football matches unhampered by their incontinence.”
Former BBC sports presenter Steve Rider, who has had prostate cancer himself, added: “Incontinence can become a real social barrier.
“Imagine going to watch your local football team, you’re halfway through the second half and suddenly you feel the need to get rid of something a bit more substantial than your season ticket.
“The ability to do that hygienically, with security and dignity, is so important.
“And that’s why I’m a strong supporter of the Back in the Game initiative to get clubs up to the Bog Standard, to enable men to live a better life.” – PA Media/dpa
