Liverpool FC has been granted a Safe Standing Licence for the 23/24 season, following an application to the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) earlier this year.
The move will now see the introduction of safe standing areas across all rail seating sections on the Kop and in the lower Anfield Road Stand from Saturday.
In these safe standing areas, supporters will be permitted to stand throughout matches and not just for significant moments, such as goal celebrations.
Safe standing areas are licensed by the SGSA and fans must be able to sit or stand – the seats cannot be locked in the ‘up’ or ‘down’ position. There must also be one seat/space per person and licensed standing areas must not impact the viewing standards of other fans, including disabled supporters.
Briefing and training will be in place for staff and stewards to ensure only relevant ticket holders are admitted to the licensed standing areas and CCTV will offer full coverage of the licensed standing areas.
LFC reviewed the effectiveness of rail seating in relation to fans’ safety at the end of a trial period last season and, as a result of its findings, applied for a Safe Standing Licence. The latest enforcement recommendations from the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) state that stadiums with rail seating for more than two years must apply for a Safe Standing Licence.
Rail seating was first introduced in two areas of Anfield during the 2020-21 close-season following a safety review by the SGSA. The initial trial saw 7,800 rail seats installed on the Kop and the lower tier of the Anfield Road Stand. A second phase saw a further 2,500 rail seats introduced to the Kop during last season’s break for the winter World Cup.
The latest installation phase took place this summer when a further 3,000 rail seats were placed on the Kop, in the remainder of blocks 202-208 up to row 33.
This took the total to 7,425 rail seats on the Kop, just over 55 per cent of stand capacity. The club plans to extend rail seating on the Kop next year to block 102-108, up to row 13.
The club consulted with its Supporters Board about its application for a Safe Standing Licence.
