Liverpool confirmed today that rail seats could be included in the new Anfield Road expansion plans.
In 2018, ECHO’s Dan Kay visited Celtic Park to see what rail seating really looks like.
A group of Liverpool supporters, including Hillsborough families and survivors, visited Celtic’s seating section and were told how the scheme represents a ‘step forward for safety’.
The Glasgow club introduced the scheme that allows 3,000 fans to stand in its Celtic Park stadium during national matches (UEFA rules prohibit its use in European games) in July 2016 and, following a vote among the members the Last summer showing overwhelming support for the idea, Liverpool supporters union Spirit of Shankly took a delegation to Scotland on Easter Saturday to see for themselves.
The group had the opportunity to participate in the safety briefing before the Bhoys’ SPL game against Ross County, before having a chance to ask questions and learn more about how rail seats actually work from the team. club police and security officers.
After a guided tour of the rail seating section to see it up close, some members of the group watched the Celts 3-0 win that afternoon from the section to see it in action during a game.
This is what I learned from the visit:
What are rail seats?
Rail seats have been used in the German Bundesliga for more than a decade (almost half of the league’s clubs now use them) and Celtic became the first British club to install in 2016, having secured a certified ‘safe position’ 13 months earlier after years of negotiations with fans, football authorities and Glasgow City Council.
Each metal seat is embedded within a sturdy metal frame that forms a waist-high rail for supporters in the back row, with the same clearance as standard seats. The frames interlock to form a continuous rail of high strength along the entire length of each row. Rail heights can vary between 90 and 115 cm.
Due to regulations prohibiting standing at European matches, the rail seats can easily be converted to standard seats when required, simply by unlocking the seat and moving them.Finish summary.
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