Scottish Championship side Celtic was "granted permission to introduce a safe standing area" within Celtic Park, according to the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The Parkhead club has been in "discussions with the relevant authorities" for more than five years to "bring a rail seating system, similar to that which can be found in stadiums in Austria and Germany." Initially, the safe standing will "accommodate up to 2,600 supporters" and could be introduced for the start of the '16-17 season. Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell "welcomed the decision to finally allow this." He said, "Celtic has worked tirelessly on this issue and we are delighted that this permission has finally been granted. Rail seating has been in place in European football for some time and there has been considerable demand for some form of 'safe standing' within the U.K. and particularly from our supporters" (DAILY RECORD, 6/9). The SCOTSMAN reported safety expert Steve Frosdick, who worked closely with the club and Glasgow City Council during the process, said that rail seating was a "'demonstrably safe' alternative to the 'standing terraces of old.'" He added, "Although standing up throughout the match has become increasingly common, persistent standing between rows of seats has been a concern for football clubs and the authorities" (SCOTSMAN, 6/9). In London, Josh Burrows wrote standing at professional football matches was "effectively outlawed" by the 1989 Football Spectators Act, which "followed the recommendations of the Taylor Report after the Hillsborough disaster earlier that year." The act "did not cover Scottish grounds," although the Scottish Premier League "demanded all-seater stadiums itself" in '98. The regulations in both countries have been "tweaked since to allow smaller clubs in both the Scottish Premier League and the lower tiers of English football to continue offering standing space." However, the Premier League still "insist on all-seater stadiums." An EPL spokesperson said, “It remains the league's position that stadiums should be all-seat, in line with government policy, and we will not be encouraging the government to change the law" (LONDON TIMES, 6/9).
CATERING TO THE NEEDS: The BBC reported Celtic will consult with its fans before any changes but is "confident that it will prove popular." A council spokesperson said, "Previously it was felt that a stewarding plan alone would not ensure spectator safety in the standing area. But the introduction of appropriate barriers, widened gangways, along with the kind of rail seating often found in European grounds and other measures, will address those concerns" (BBC, 6/9).
