Standing Areas Allowed Back.

[MrRed]

Scottish Premier League gives green light for standing areas

SPL clubs like St Johnstone will be able to pilot 'safe-standing' areasScottish Premier League clubs have been given the green light to have safe-standing areas within their stadiums.

The SPL announced a relaxation of its rules on standing following a general meeting of all 12 clubs on Monday.

"Since I joined the SPL in 2009, there has been widespread support among fans to re-introduce safe-standing areas," said chief executive Neil Doncaster.

"I'm delighted we have been able to respond positively to supporters' views on improving the match-day experience."

Approval will be required from local council safety committees and the police.

Terraces were banned following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 and the issue of allowing some standing areas has been revisited since all-seater stadiums became compulsory in England in 1994.

Scotland is not bound by the law which banned standing areas in top-flight football in England, which came into force after the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster.

SPL rules currently state that clubs must only use seated areas with a minimum of 6,000 seats per stadium.

Meanwhile, the SPL has also tightened the rules governing unacceptable conduct, to include: "using words, conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to a

[smokie36]

The SPL needs more than this....its on a life support machine as it is....

[StevieH]

think it's excellent news. germany's bundesliga manages to have big crowds, brilliant atmospheres and standing fans. hey the fans are even allowed to have a beer while watching the match.

96 people didn't die at hillsborough because fans were allowed to stand up at the time. so long as grounds are correctly managed, policed and stewarded i don't see how this could be a bad thing.

[carmine]

I remember watching a league cup tie at Craven Cottage, i think around 2002. The away supporters end was standing in the lower section and it was a real reminder of how much better the atmosphere was. Especially when you score an 88th minute winner.

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

[smokie36]

I remember watching a league cup tie at Craven Cottage, i think around 2002. The away supporters end was standing in the lower section and it was a real reminder of how much better the atmosphere was. Especially when you score an 88th minute winner.

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

I wonder what percentage of fans would prefer to stand?

Over to you Abrak...

[StevieH]

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

don't see that as much of an argument to be honest, most of the police's work is usually crowd control outside the ground. it works just fine in other countries so i don't see why it shouldn't work in england if correctly managed.

[bkkjames]

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

don't see that as much of an argument to be honest, most of the police's work is usually crowd control outside the ground. it works just fine in other countries so i don't see why it shouldn't work in england if correctly managed.

what's wrong with the way it is now Stevie?

Looks to me that Serie A has standing areas and what a mess.

[smokie36]

As I hinted in my first reply this has everything to do with cutting costs and ticket prices and trying to encourage more fans into the grounds in Scotland.

Its never going to happen in the Premiership.

[mrbojangles]

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

don't see that as much of an argument to be honest, most of the police's work is usually crowd control outside the ground. it works just fine in other countries so i don't see why it shouldn't work in england if correctly managed.

what's wrong with the way it is now Stevie?

Looks to me that Serie A has standing areas and what a mess.

If you have to ask that james, it's obvious you haven't tasted the atmosphere that is present when standing.

[StevieH]

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

don't see that as much of an argument to be honest, most of the police's work is usually crowd control outside the ground. it works just fine in other countries so i don't see why it shouldn't work in england if correctly managed.

what's wrong with the way it is now Stevie?

Looks to me that Serie A has standing areas and what a mess.

a standing, bouncing, singing terrace is a thing of beauty james. a seated area where stewards are constantly telling fans to sit down on fear of being ejected from the ground is not.

[smokie36]

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

don't see that as much of an argument to be honest, most of the police's work is usually crowd control outside the ground. it works just fine in other countries so i don't see why it shouldn't work in england if correctly managed.

what's wrong with the way it is now Stevie?

Looks to me that Serie A has standing areas and what a mess.

Yes James they need popcorn holders don't they?

[MrRed]

think it's excellent news. germany's bundesliga manages to have big crowds, brilliant atmospheres and standing fans. hey the fans are even allowed to have a beer while watching the match.

96 people didn't die at hillsborough because fans were allowed to stand up at the time. so long as grounds are correctly managed, policed and stewarded i don't see how this could be a bad thing.

Totally agree with you

[mrtoad]

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

don't see that as much of an argument to be honest, most of the police's work is usually crowd control outside the ground. it works just fine in other countries so i don't see why it shouldn't work in england if correctly managed.

what's wrong with the way it is now Stevie?

Looks to me that Serie A has standing areas and what a mess.

If you have to ask that james, it's obvious you haven't tasted the atmosphere that is present when standing.

I think most Hockey stadiums are all seated MrBJ.

I have to say, I really miss the standing areas - much better way to watch the football. Really do hate seating.

[bkkjames]

Yea yea broken record lads, I just prefer my flares sitting down.

[redrus]

Yea yea broken record lads, I just prefer my flares sitting down.

Flares were never a part of UK terrace culture, unless you mean the 42" type...

redrus

[mrbojangles]

Yea yea broken record lads, I just prefer my flares sitting down.

Flares were never a part of UK terrace culture, unless you mean the 42" type...

With Crown pockets

[JacknDanny]

Yea yea broken record lads, I just prefer my flares sitting down.

Flares were never a part of UK terrace culture, unless you mean the 42" type...

With Crown pockets

I remember going with my Oxford Bags and platforms

But then again I had a season ticket in Platt Lane and not the Kippax :lol:

[smokie36]

Yea yea broken record lads, I just prefer my flares sitting down.

Flares were never a part of UK terrace culture, unless you mean the 42" type...

With Crown pockets

I remember going with my Oxford Bags and platforms

But then again I had a season ticket in Platt Lane and not the Kippax :lol:

Nice one Jack....meanwhile I'm imagining mrboj in his Bay City Rollers days....magic!

[StevieH]

Yea yea broken record lads, I just prefer my flares sitting down.

Flares were never a part of UK terrace culture, unless you mean the 42" type...

redrus

heh. skinny lois jeans and slazenger v-necks mate. casual.

[MrRed]

[mrbojangles]

Flares were never a part of UK terrace culture, unless you mean the 42" type...

With Crown pockets

I remember going with my Oxford Bags and platforms

But then again I had a season ticket in Platt Lane and not the Kippax :lol:

Nice one Jack....meanwhile I'm imagining mrboj in his Bay City Rollers days....magic!

Get that image out of your head right now

[RichardL]

I doubt the police will want standing back because its easier for them with all seaters.

don't see that as much of an argument to be honest, most of the police's work is usually crowd control outside the ground. it works just fine in other countries so i don't see why it shouldn't work in england if correctly managed.

what's wrong with the way it is now Stevie?

Looks to me that Serie A has standing areas and what a mess.

Serie A doesn't have standing areas. It has seated areas that people stand up in, and a clueless police force who have not idea about crowd control - i.e. they have two modes: a) do nothing and ) b charge in cracking heads.

Loads of countries have standing areas now, even in newer stadiums. Hell, you can even go up to Leo Stadium in Pathum Thani and stand on one of the highest terraces in football.

As for "what's wrong with it now?", football was just a lot more fun when there were terraces. The atmosphere was a lot better as well.

I've never got the "i prefer to sit" arguement. Nobody is saying standing will be compulsory. It just offers a choice.

It'll also improve the lot of those who prefer to sit, as they'll no longer be surrounded by people who keep standing up.

[cardholder]

think it's excellent news. germany's bundesliga manages to have big crowds, brilliant atmospheres and standing fans. hey the fans are even allowed to have a beer while watching the match.

96 people didn't die at hillsborough because fans were allowed to stand up at the time. so long as grounds are correctly managed, policed and stewarded i don't see how this could be a bad thing.

I agree 100%

[tw25rw]

Can't see it happening, but I'd love to see terraces back. Would make football an affordable recreation again. Design and manage the areas properly instead of just cramming them into a dilapidated old stadium and it should be perfectly safe.

[highchol]

would be great to have standing back, scouse pickpockets are drooling at the prospect too

[rijit]

, After spending my youth and 2 many years stretching my neck and constantly having to move to get a 'decent' view, I was relatively glad to see the back of them. Saying that standing terraces were Not so bad when the grounds half full, but when they were near capacity,IMO, not in any/many ways enjoyable. But if the scotts think it will help clubs and fans I wish them the best.

[tw25rw]

would be great to have standing back, scouse pickpockets are drooling at the prospect too

They won't need urinals any more either.

[MrRed]

The campaign for safe standing areas to be incorporated into top-level football grounds has received a major boost, after Aston Villa said they are examining introducing a standing section at Villa Park.

Paul Faulkner, Villa's chief executive, told a supporters' consultation group that he recognises fans want to stand, that safe standing areas could help improve the match atmosphere, allow for some cheaper ticket prices, and therefore attract younger supporters currently priced out by the cost of seats.

Faulkner has met the Football Supporters' Federation, which has long campaigned for a relaxation of the law compulsory requiring clubs in the top two divisions to have all-seating in their grounds.

Villa have become the first Premier League club to break publicly with the orthodoxy which has lasted two decades, that standing is too associated with football's bleak period in the 1980s ever to return.

Lord Justice Taylor recommended compulsory all-seating for all football grounds, later confined to the top two divisions, in his final report after the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster. His recommendation was opposed by the then Football Supporters Association, which pointed out that terracing itself had not been a cause of the disaster, which happened due to mismanagement of the FA Cup semi-final crowd by the South Yorkshire police, Sheffield Wednesday's negligently unsafe ground, and the fences at the front of the Leppings Lane terrace.

The FSA argued that grounds, including standing areas, should be made safe, and that if seating was made compulsory, the clubs would raise prices so substantially that long-standing supporters would be priced out.

Taylor rejected that, saying: "It should be possible to plan a price structure which suits the cheapest seats to the pockets of those at present paying to stand," citing the cost of standing at Rangers' Ibrox ground then, of £4. With cumulative inflation of 77.1% since, the price of that ticket at the beginning of this season would have been £7. Yet prices at the bigger Premier League clubs mostly start at a minimum £30 and go much higher than that. At Liverpool, whose supporters were the victims at Hillsborough, standing on the Kop cost £4 in 1989-90; the price for a seat this season at category A games is £45.

Politicians have been reluctant even to discuss standing at football, because of the association with Hillsborough, but last year the sports minister, Hugh Robertson, said he would look at the issue if presented with overwhelming agreement by the police and safety authorities. That remains a long way off, but the argument has shifted, with the authorities no longer able to argue that standing is in itself unsafe.

Awareness has grown of the standing areas in the German Bundesliga, between rails spaced closely enough to make a large crush physically impossible. The FSF points to the safety risk at Premier League grounds now, where many fans stand throughout matches, in seated areas not designed to accommodate standing.

One entrepreneurial supporter, Jon Darch, has been visiting clubs in the Championship, Premier League and Scotland with a sample Bundesliga-style rail structure, and says he has had an "enthusiastic response" from all clubs. The Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster, who has introduced a private members bill to remove the standing prohibition, is planning to bring Darch's exhibition to Parliament shortly.

Seating has never been compulsory in Scottish football, and last month the Scottish Premier League positively invited applications from clubs to introduce safe standing areas. All the SPL clubs, including Celtic and Rangers, have been positive about doing so, with Neil Doncaster, the SPL chief executive, saying: "I do expect to receive applications, including from Celtic and Rangers, as early as this summer, and the rail system has the most chance of being approved."

Peter Daykin, of the FSF, pointed to St Helens opening a new stadium for this 2012 Super League season, incorporating large standing areas, and said: "We hope football's status as a pariah sport is coming to an end. Our members have always been overwhelmingly in favour of safe standing areas."

A Premier League spokesman said it remains the league's position that stadiums should be all-seat, in line with government policy. "If Aston Villa want to explore safe standing and bring it forward as an issue, we welcome the debate around the table," he said.

[smokie36]

Any pictures of this rail system in use?

[MrRed]