MIXING sport with politics is a dangerous game.

Yet, when it comes to football, it is difficult to avoid.

Like it or not, the sport gets emotions running high and politicians know that where there is emotion, there are votes to be won and lost.

This is being illustrated perfectly with Worcester City’s proposed new stadium at Perdiswell and Worcester City Council ahead of next May’s elections.

Labour, under Adrian Gregson, were big supporters of bringing the club back home, no doubt aware of the extra support they might collect.

Now, Conservative council leader Simon Geraghty has taken a different approach, opting to effectively sit on the fence, no doubt worried about his party losing votes in the St Stephen ward, which borders Perdiswell.

However, Conservative cllr Gareth Jones, who occupies the St Stephen seat, has shown no such caution and has already nailed his colours to the mast by declaring he will do everything in his power to stop the club moving to Perdiswell.

One of his objections is increased traffic. Yet, I notice he was not so vocal about the new swimming pool. That will be used far more regularly than the stadium, chiefly on week nights as well as weekends. Won’t that contribute to any increased traffic?

Green cllr Neil Laurenson is also against the stadium, citing the loss of more open space from Worcester.

That isn’t up for debate — the ground would be built on green space — but the claim it is used by lots of people doesn’t stack up.

In reality, few people use this public space. At least a football ground, with extra pitches for community teams, would give it that use.

All this, and the plans haven’t even been made public through the planning process yet.

The decision on whether City should move to Perdiswell should not be taken based on a person’s political persuasion or, dare I say it, personal preferences.

It should be based on the project’s merits and the site’s suitability, which is down to the planners to rule on.

Yet, inevitably, it has become a way of scoring political points and that only looks set to intensify.