ian1964

Disabled area repaired a year before Kilmarnock v Rangers roof collapse KILMARNOCK FC were forced to take action over issues with a disabled fans shelter at the centre of a safety row a year before Rangers fans crashed through the roof, it has emerged. The Rugby Park club has denied receiving any complaints from a disabled fans group or Rangers about issues in advance of the the shelter collapse which happened as Rangers fans celebrated a stoppage-time winner. East Ayrshire Council has told the Rugby Park club to address certain issues as "a matter of urgency". It is not yet clear what those issues related to. It has emerged that the council raised concerns about the disabled shelter's safety last year which led to repair work being completed on August 10. A document covering a local authority inspection in May, last year, seen by the Herald states that the "disabled spectators area requires repairs to the roof and guttering". Rangers Disabled Supporters Club chairman Billy Paterson said they had warned clubs of the dangers of such disabled shelters for years but said nobody took action. The Scottish Professional Football League has said it will work with police and both Kilmarnock and Rangers to determine what action is needed following the shelter collapse, pitch invasion and issues with turnstiles at Rugby Park. One man was injured as the roof of a disabled shelter collapsed when Rangers fans spilled out of the stand to celebrate Connor Goldson's stoppage-time winner on Sunday. Mr Paterson said both Kilmarnock and Rangers had been contacted at "various times over the years" about the dangers of the shelter but said: "They don't do anything about it." He says there should have been increased stewarding, as has happened at Aberdeen FC. Rangers also insisted the matter had previously been raised with the Rugby Park club in the past on behalf of supporters. But a Kilmarnock FC spokesman said: "We are not aware of any such complaint." Television footage appeared to showed three supporters climbing on the roof while a number of fans ran on to the pitch and track-side to celebrate with Goldson and his team-mates after the defender had sealed a 2-1 Ladbrokes Premiership win on Sunday. Footage on social media showed police, stewards and fans trying to hold up the disabled shelter roof while fans in wheelchairs got out from underneath. Some Rangers fans were also said to have been caught in a crush going into Rugby Park as turnstiles were unable to cope meaning they missed the start of the match. Witnesses reported Rangers fans being crushed trying to get in. The away end was only approximately three-quarters full at kick-off but, by the dramatic conclusion of the game, Rangers fans could be seen sitting and standing on the stadium's stairs and entrances to the stand. East Ayrshire Council have visited the ground and ordered the club to address problems as a “matter of urgency”. Rangers said it had previously asked Kilmarnock to look into a second safety issue, the "failure" of their ticketing system, which was apparent "well before the kick off and which was the cause of serious congestion and crushing." Stuart McCall, a legal manager for the council said:“Following our initial meeting with Kilmarnock Football Club’s stadium safety officer yesterday morning (Monday) we are arranging a further meeting later this week, once the club has been able to put together additional information concerning the issues which arose on Sunday. “Yesterday’s meeting was an initial meeting with the Stadium Safety Officer and it must be appreciated that the Club are still in the process of reviewing all relevant matters. “KFC has cooperated fully with us in the past in response to any requests that we have made in relation to the issue of the annual safety certificate. There was obviously a problem at the away supporters’ turnstiles on Sunday but the cause of that is still to be definitively established.” Meanwhile, Kilmarnock director Billy Bowie has said he wants Rangers to be part of a full-scale probe into the events of Sunday. Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: "There are loads of claims and counterclaims flying around so we've decided to have a meeting with all the authorities and everybody involved to find out what went wrong. "Something was clearly not right as there were more people there than the amount of tickets sold. "So we will have an investigation into everything that went on to make sure it's put right. "We'll be doing that this week and it would be nice to have Rangers round the table but we'll have to see what they've got organised." Police Scotland launched an investigation into the "pitch incursion" on Sunday. Kilmarnock FC have been approached for further comment. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17818989.disabled-area-repaired-year-kilmarnock-v-rangers-roof-collapse/

Expected, and it will only get worse with every win!

I just watch it on my laptop, you can use an HDMI cable to connect to the TV, no idea about the cast?

Rangers are set to offer greater protection to their female players after they were targeted for abuse by the Green Brigade. The Ibrox club are ready to bolster security around their women’s squad for games at Celtic after deeming fan behaviour at Sunday’s Old Firm match as unacceptable. Rangers claim their players were subjected to sectarian and misogynistic insults throughout the game at East Kilbride, which Celtic won 3-1. The Green Brigade , the controversial Parkhead fan group, attended the game and Rangers claim their players were left intimidated by their behaviour. A Rangers official even spoke to the referee at half-time to formally catalogue their concerns to the officials at K-Park, the home of the Hoops women’s team. A Rangers spokesperson said: “Our women were subjected to misogynistic and sectarian abuse, which is totally unacceptable. “Perhaps security measures need to be introduced for Rangers women when they have a match away from home against Celtic.” The sides are next scheduled to meet in the league at the Hummel Centre in October, but Rangers will take steps to ensure spectators are strictly vetted. Celtic have been approached for comment. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-bolster-womens-team-security-18846675

I would love Rangers FC to take the lead on this and give disabled supporters a decent facility to enjoy Ibrox, talk of expanding Ibrox may just give them the chance to do so?.

Vicki Dennis I’ve decided not to renew my Premier League season ticket – there are still far too many obstacles for people like me After the summer break, many football fans will be looking forward to the start of the new Premier League season. But for some disabled supporters like me it’s a reminder that there is still a long way to go towards making the sport inclusive. I love football and held a season ticket at West Ham United from 2016-18. But I didn’t renew it last season and I won’t this year because I don’t believe disabled football fans are treated as they deserve to be. Under the Equality Act 2010, clubs are required by law to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. To start with, however, this is ambiguous. What exactly constitutes a reasonable adjustment? It is subjective and can be interpreted differently. Nor does it go far enough. There’s more to inclusion than just ensuring there are enough wheelchair spaces, or publishing an access statement online. The whole match-day experience matters. Take, for example, providing suitable toilet facilities. More than a quarter of a million people across the UK need fully accessible toilets known as “changing places”. Standard accessible toilets aren’t always suitable because they don’t include a hoist or adult-sized changing bench – and they are usually too small. Changing places toilets give disabled people greater independence. Yet according to new research by Muscular Dystrophy UK, only 75% of Premier League clubs – West Ham included – have registered one, though some football grounds have provided temporary solutions. Thousands of people with severe disabilities can’t experience the simple pleasure of watching a football match because they are denied a basic human right: the use of a toilet. Even if there is a suitable toilet, it will often be filthy or out of use. I’ve been to games where facilities haven’t been locked, which inevitably means non-disabled fans end up using them. Installing a universal Radar key, for use only by disabled people, prevents this from happening. Of course, people should take responsibility for their actions and use disabled toilets only if there is a genuine need. But clubs also have a responsibility to ensure their facilities are properly maintained and available. On more than one occasion, however, I’ve been unable to use a toilet at a match because it had been locked completely without even the Radar key working. Enduring hours of having to hold it in is a horrible experience. Football is supposed to inspire camaraderie and passion, but some disabled fans are forced to watch the game alone as not all clubs reserve spaces for friends and family to sit alongside them. Sometimes wheelchair users must also sit with supporters of the opposing team. That can be daunting. In that sense I’m lucky because at West Ham’s London stadium I was always able to sit with my partner. But we were so far away from other West Ham supporters that we didn’t experience the same atmosphere or sense of belonging as everyone else. The positioning of this seating was also open to the elements. I struggled with the cold and couldn’t even have a hot drink to warm up because there are no food stalls up in the stands. I would often go without eating or drinking the whole time I was there because it was too difficult to get down to the busy concourse. I’m disabled. Please don’t talk to me as if I’m stupid Penny Anderson Read more The first time I bought a season ticket there was no information about the evacuation procedure for disabled people, nor could I see any signs in the stadium advising on what to do in an emergency. The lack of information panicked me. I couldn’t focus on the game. All disabled people should have full and equal access to all areas of society. Sport is important to many of us, but reasonable adjustments still aren’t being made for disabled spectators. Far too often our experience of watching games is inferior to that of non-disabled people. I’d love to go to watch my team play this season, but my past experiences have put me off. Premier League clubs have a lot to learn. They must engage with disabled fans. They must listen to our feedback and, more importantly, they must take it on board and take action. • Vicki Dennis is a disability rights campaigner with Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Trailblazers network https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/05/disabled-football-fan-premier-league-ticket?CMP=share_btn_tw