A moan.

What is it with the stewards at Perpignan constantly checking tickets whenever Hull KR supporters came back into the stand from a bar or having a wee?

Le job creation scheme in my view.

I saw one man in a Rovers shirt get bundled away by about 20 stewards when trying to get back into the stand; by the smiles on their faces afterwards they seemed pleased with their work. I'm not sure what it was all about.

I didn't see any stewards at the stand just to the left of where we were, i.e. where there were only home supporters.

Moan over

Guess they were doing their job(s).

I've only been once - Rovers fans in all four corners of the ground.
Crazy

they do it to everyone including locals unless the stewards recognise the fan - since SL has been played at the GB i've sat in most parts of the ground and always had the same treatment except in some cases where the steward has recalled me so don't worry , you are not being treated any different from anyone else.
This season, as I was told by an official of the club, the club has clamped down a lot on fan movement due to fans somehow getting into the wrong areas thus causing problems with the the real seat ticket holders unable to use their place.

Went for a pee at half time in the stand you are referring to and everyone was checked. Steward was also polite when he let us back in. We were the only HKR fans in the section and had a great time among the French fans.

I thought it was just Hull fans that pee'd in the stand?

Yes the stewards were checking locals tickets too although they didn't make sure people were sat in the correct seats which did lead to a few disgruntled Catalan folk.

I'd have imagined the best place for away fans would be one or both of the uncovered seated areas along the sides of the pitch. If people wanted to be under cover and in the shade then possibly an upgrade could be paid for.

Worst thing was the fact you had to buy tokens to get drinks, even bottled water! I guess it is safer one person having all the money in one place than a few outlets all having to cash up seperately but it was quite a walk from where you were sat and not enough time at half time to go queue for a token then queue again for the drinks!

The whole planning of stewarding and seating there is way OTT, but they really screwed up when FC went a few years back and let far too many home [uand[/u away fans into one stand (when all the tickets for it had been sold at Hull). The RFL kicked their butt so I guess the overzealousness is a response to that.

yes,I was in with the FC fans and the vast majority were =#FF0000Edit-AS as newts,verbally abusive,not respectful of the Catalan anthem and generally a pain in the derriere - they were appalling after the game spewing up and having a jimmy behind the said stand and were most unpleasant - please stay away you yobs ! The club had the west stand out of action due to the building renovations etc so rather than turn the FC fans away, put them with the Catalan fans who were well behaved as usual.
I went as a neutral with my missus to simply enjoy a game of RL and ended up being embarassed to hold a UK passport - the bad language was ok as the locals didn't understand what was being said.The FC fans with their kids must have been ashamed to be associated with such scumbags...

The RFL didn't 'kick any butts' but hopefully apologised for the behaviour of some of the FC fans

We went into town later and had a great time with the 'normal' RL fans from FC & Catalans who had a good craic together.

It only takes a handful to spoil it for the rest...

Was referring to this

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=34&t=456878&start=40[/url

With this

[urlhttp://www.lindependant.com/articles/2010-05-16/les-dragons-catalans-sous-haute-affluence-anglaise-181765.php[/url

Being the local paper report. The rfl investigated (I know a few interviewed as a result) and Catalans were told off for it, if not having their butts kicked. That's what I was meaning.

the second link is an empty page

but yes,you're right - the cock up was made by the Catalan club by not honouring the seating arrangements for the FC fans - I hope and trust the apology was for that stupid error which is typical of french organisation - they really are clueless about that sort of thing

but putting the FC fans with the french fans shouldn't mean that some of them have the right to act like drunken louts does it therefore spoiling it for the rest ?

I guess they've taken the page down as it wouldn't open for me either.

I agree that fans of any club don't have the right to act like drunken louts (and experienced it last year too) but it won't just be FC fans, unfortunately.

Being mischievous, it was the French fans put with the FC fans too

The vast majority of FC fans? I don't think so!
Maybe they were =#FF0000Edit-AS off at not being allowed to go into the seats printed on their tickets and being herded into an already overcowded temporary stand when their were hundreds of empty seats in the stand opposite.
There was an RFL investigation. I know because I was interviewed by the investigator and gave him photos of the dangerous overcrowding. No mention was made of any problem with the behaviour of the Hull fans in the final report.
The problem was rank incompetence on the part of the Catalans club.

100% agree mate - as I said,typical french organisation

but,it doesn't mean you have to throw your toys out of the pram cos' you were hard done by ? fact is most of the FC fans in that stand (me and the missus were in that stand) were pretty abusive and well watered - the verbal abuse as well as the non respect of the Catalan anthem (bet you've forgotten about that too ?) was offensive to the french fans (including kids) in that overcrowded stand as well as the adjoining mainstand - the behaviour was unacceptable even considering the amount of alcohol consumed

Hull KR came down last weekend and were angelic in comparison just like every other SL team visiting Perpignan - it just seems to be some of the FC lot who can't control themselves

What worried me last weekend wasn't the stewards or indeed the behaviour of any fans from either side but the new stand itself. I really don't think it would get a safety certificate in this country. The steps are too high especially for a number of more mature members of our party who the more able of us had to physically help climb them. Not only are they very high but very steep and no hand rails to help. The seats themselves are a worry of course too. If someone was to trip and fall there is nothing to stop them going from the top to the bottom and I believe someone could be badly hurt. That for me is a bigger worry.

couldn't agree more - it's very steep and not practical for people like my good lady who is handicapped and unable to easily get up the steps - I don't feel we found it dangerous,just a bit intimidating.The whole stadium is not user friendly IMO especially for people with limited mobility ie. wheelchairs have to be carried up to the stands by stewards as there are no ramps etc

Montpellier where Catalans played Wigan last season is just as bad but at least there is a lift for fans to use to get to the different levels in the main stand at least - unfortunately the lift was out of order !!!!

typical french debacle ! somethings they do well and others they are completely clueless!

it would be interesting to know whether the stand would pass safety regs in the UK ?

Erm, if the stewards have to carry the wheelchairs up into the stands, how do the wheelchair users get up?

Erm,with the person in the chair......that person is then sat in the wheelchair away from the seating area so as not to block the view of other fans

(ps - unfortunate username at the moment )

They carry the person in the chair up the stairs?

That is ridiculous, how would they get them out if there was a fire?

if the person with limited mobility can't walk what else is there to do ? usually it takes two or three stewards to carry a wheelchair,not exactly rocket science - these people would be down the stairs long before the people in the seats at the top would be.

in the event of a fire ? well, you tell me - the wheelchairs are close to the exits so it wouldn't be major problem I wouldn't have thought,we're only talking of about ten steps

but I agree it is a crazy situation - how have the latest stadia ie Langtree Park & DW etc arranged it for people in wheelchairs ? Do they still have to sit at ground level as in the old days ?

Nowadays, just about all biggish 'all-seater' stadia, have a disabled section midway into the stand - usually the same level as the concourses. Langtree from pics certainly have pitch side sections, but I'd imagine they too will have elevated disabled sections. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm sure I've heard/read that for every new stand/extension etc they have to meet disability requirements. At CP we have a pitch side hut sorta' thing – hopefully short term.

yeah,traditionally the people with reduced mobility were always grouped together it seems at ground level at most sporting events and treated as an afterthought IMO

I really hope the new stands cater for these people like my missus who are quite happy to pay a bit more if the facilities are provided rather than stuck in a corner somewhere

one thing about the Gilbert Brutus is the parking facilities for Disabled badge holders is great - it's just when you are actually in the ground that you notice the lack of ramps etc - my good lady has two sticks and can negotiate most sports grounds in france but the new stand at Perpignan is a bridge too far....

They have checked the tickets in all sections from day one. Its due to it being an open stadium with different pricing. As for the steepness of the stand you should try ajax which is the steepest in Europe. Scary being in that stand.

yes it is scary but the stadium at Charleroi,especially the bit added on to increase capacity in 2000 was potentially dangerous IMO

the Mestalla in Valencia has to be the scariest terracing of all time though, making the Perpignan stand seem almost flat in comparison !

Put some pics up on fan views for thats stadiums guys!