Stand up for our game: The terracing which does comply with UEFA rules

[ian1964 10,427]

"Stand up if you hate sitting down". That could be the chant you hear at football grounds around the country before too long.

 

Record Sport's revelation that a group of Motherwell fans were ejected from Pittodrie on Saturday for standing in support of their team has sparked fresh debate on the introduction of safe standing areas at Scottish stadia.

 

The idea has taken off in Germany and other European countries but so far the SPL hasn't entertained it as a viable option.

 

Instead, the top-flight clubs in this country are forced to have a 6000 all-seater stadium which invariably lies half empty every second Saturday.

 

It's a huge issue in England too and the FSF (Football Supporters Federation) are campaigning to see safe terraces brought back into football - and claim nine out of 10 fans want to see it happen.

 

At the moment they don't represent fans in Scotland but spokesman Michael Brunskill has supporters in the SPL and urged SFL to highlight the issue as much as possible.

 

Brunskill has documentary evidence which states it can be done safely and told Scotland's biggest clubs, Rangers and Celtic, that introducing a standing area won't contradict UEFA guidelines on all-seater stadia.

 

He told Record Sport: "I urge Scottish fans, like the Motherwell supporters, to back the FSF campaign and sign our online petition first and foremost.

 

"They should contact their MSP or MP, let them know their feelings on safe standing and ask them whether they're aware of it.

 

"Contact your club and let them know, get in touch with the SPL and SFA as well. It's about raising awareness of the subject.

 

"Football authorities say there isn't an appetite for it because few people contact them.

 

"We don't do any specific campaigning in Scotland but we wouldn't turn any fan away. We'd strive to offer them advice.

 

"Uefa regulations state that European games must be played in front of all-seater crowds. But Rangers and Celtic could still bring in a safe standing area because you can have flip-down seats - it's like a barrier with an upright seat.

 

"So you have the standing area for domestic matches then flip it down for European games.

 

"Any Scottish clubs who are in Europe could still comply with UEFA regulations and have a specific standing area."

 

Brunskill has sympathy with the Well fans who were thrown out of their game with Aberdeen and believes clashes like that are completely avoidable.

 

And with the likes of Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis and John Barrow, who designed the new Wembley Stadium, giving the thumbs-up to safe standing areas, the FSF are hopeful clubs will experiment with the idea in the not too distant future.

 

He said: "We have dialogue with supporters who talk about tension at games between stewards and fans. It's normally over standing and this is entirely avoidable.

 

"There are stringent safety guidelines on stadia laid down by the Government, it's called the Green Guide. But you can bring in safe standing to meet the criteria of the Green Guide."

 

Celtic have been exploring the idea of introducing a standing zone and they told Record Sport: "We are carrying out a study into the possibility of introducing a safe standing area in Parkhead."

[ian1964 10,427]

Football Supporters Federation. Safe Standing Campaign.

 

http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding.php

 

I've signed up for this campaign,the more signatures they get the more chance of this happening so I would encourage everyone to sign up.

Edited November 23, 2011 by ian1964

[GovanAllan 0]

Done Ian more power to them would love to see all the front sections of Ibrox standing. Maybe one day.

[Zappa 0]

The way things are going in Scotland it's more likely that they'll start arresting people for standing than set up designated standing areas, but I've signed the FSF petition as it's definitely a great idea.

[GovanAllan 0]

The way things are going in Scotland it's more likely that they'll start arresting people for standing than set up designated standing areas, but I've signed the FSF petition as it's definitely a great idea.

 

It'll be farting next Zappa.

[ian1964 10,427]

I believe it can happen,I just think if the likes of FSF get enough support to at least make it to discussion,if there is enough support for it it might just happen?

[GovanAllan 0]

Any idea the cost Ian?

 

I take it the photo on the site is how the terracing would look doesn't look like you wold get many more people in than their is at the moment.

[Zappa 0]

Any idea the cost Ian?

 

I take it the photo on the site is how the terracing would look doesn't look like you wold get many more people in than their is at the moment.

 

It would be roughly the same capacity, maybe even exactly the same because clubs would just remove their current seating and replace it with the special railings with built-in seats.

[Zappa 0]

Actually, they could probably just put up railings/barriers without even having to replace the existing seats!

[ian1964 10,427]

Safe Standing, Twenty Years On From Hillsborough

 

 

Aside from safety, the question of cost is a serious issue. Safe standing would increase revenue by increasing capacity with thousands of extra tickets possible in the same space, but at lower price points, and the kind of convertible seating that has worked in Germany (meeting the UEFA mandate for all-seater games in European competition while converting to standing for domestic games) is not cheap. A 2001 study by the Football Licensing Authority into the convertible “Kombi” seating in Hamburg noted the “Kombi” seats cost £90 each, which compares with around £21 for a typical tip up seat.

 

Some pics in here,below, of the kind of seats

 

http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/03/22/safe-standing-twenty-years-on-from-hillsborough/