Fans from Manchester City, Liverpool and Middlesbrough have been identified as causing problems at matches against the Black Cats and will be punished by restrictions on ticket sales.

The decision was made by Sunderland City Council's Regulatory Committee as a safety measure.

West Ham, Leeds, Cardiff, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday, Liverpool and Newcastle have all been subject to the measures in previous seasons.

Some fans say the limits are unfair and that standing during games does not pose a risk to public safety.

There are also calls for the introduction of special allocated standing areas for fans, and campaigners say this would create more atmosphere at matches.

But safety rules state fans must not stand during games, and council officers say those who do cause problems.

"This action of fans standing in seated areas is recognised as a major safety concern as it introduces the risk of injury to spectators and others from falls, surging and crushing," they say in a report.

"The ability of the club to manage the crowd, and access into the crowd by the police, ambulance service or St John's, is severely affected due to the blocking of stairways, gangways and vomitoria.

"The action also impacts upon customer care as spectators behind standing fans have no alternative but to do likewise whether they wish to stand or not."

A limit of 2,400 will be imposed on Liverpool fans at the game on Saturday, August 16. Fans from Manchester City on Saturday, August 30 and Middlesbrough on Saturday, September 20, will be limited to 2,700 tickets.

Premiership rules say clubs must offer away fans a minimum of 3,000, and Stadium of Light bosses say they always try to make as many as possible available to visiting spectators in the hope that it will be reciprocated when Sunderland fans want to go to away games.

Today, a club spokesman said: "We respect the decision of the Safety Advisory Group and must abide by it as the safety of all supporters must be our priority.

"It is not in the club's best interests for visiting clubs' ticket allocations to be reduced. There are obviously financial implications from reducing the ticket allocations of visiting clubs as Sunderland could lose up to a six-figure sum over the course of the season from tickets it is not able to sell.

"However, failure to control persistent standing could result in the Safety Advisory Group revoking the club's safety certificate and without this certificate the Stadium of Light could not stage football matches."