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Version 1 Version 2
Scotland fans angry after wheelchair users’ restricted view at Hampden Park Scottish FA offers refund to wheelchair users with restricted view at Hampden
(about 5 hours later)
Scottish fans have expressed anger after the view for wheelchair users was restricted by advertising hoardings that were poorly placed at Hampden Park during the Euro 2016 qualifier between Scotland and Germany on Monday night. The Scottish Football Association has issued an apology and will refund ticket monies after up to 100 disabled supporters had their view of Monday’s match with Germany at Hampden Park obscured by touchline advertising boards.
The BBC’s Scotland investigations correspondent, Mark Daly, called for the SFA to explain the situation after posting on Twitter his picture of the view afforded fans at the match. Wheelchair users in the South stand took to social media to complain about the electronic boards, which blocked their view of the pitch. Some were moved to an alternative viewing platform in the east stand during the 3-2 win for the World Cup winners, but capacity restrictions there meant that could not be the case for everyone who was affected.
There was anger that the association’s commercial department did not consider this hindrance when agreeing to install the boards. Stewart Regan, the SFA’s chief executive, said the situation was “unacceptable”. In a statement, the governing body said: “The Scottish FA apologises unreservedly to those supporters accommodated in the South stand accessible areas whose view was seriously restricted by the double television production.
“We will offer a full refund to those supporters affected and will review matters ahead of the European qualifier against Poland next month.”
Wheelchairs at Hampden afforded 2nd class citizen status tonight thanks to ad hoarding. Nice one SFA. pic.twitter.com/iKQlMadF6YWheelchairs at Hampden afforded 2nd class citizen status tonight thanks to ad hoarding. Nice one SFA. pic.twitter.com/iKQlMadF6Y
He added that “Supporters club officials mortified, to be fair to them, and came down and apologised to everyone. Inquiry underway, apparently”.
He was not alone in his demands for an explanation from the SFA however as another unhappy supporter, David Brockett, also shared the view he was given and his dissatisfaction on Twitter.
Raging @scottishfa. Just arrived to find advertising boards COMPLETELY obscuring disabled seating view. Unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/tOJ2DUHSohRaging @scottishfa. Just arrived to find advertising boards COMPLETELY obscuring disabled seating view. Unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/tOJ2DUHSoh
As did Sharon McCaskie, who described the view as “disgraceful”.
@Daily_Record disabled supporters view at hampden disgraceful pic.twitter.com/fdMdtkPK6A@Daily_Record disabled supporters view at hampden disgraceful pic.twitter.com/fdMdtkPK6A
Stewart Regan, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, replied to Daly’s tweet by saying: “Mark, agree this is unacceptable. We rectified last night as soon as poss & will be in touch with those affected to make amends”. However Daly did not accept that anything had been done to improve the situation. Tweeting: “how was it rectified? Most of the wheelchair users I was beside, including my companion, didn’t see the game?”.
Scotland lost the game 3-2 to Germany and their only hope of qualification now lies through the play-offs.