After years of the all-seater rule, Turkey has moved towards a more open approach. Following legal changes from 2019 and early 2020 stadia can now function also without individual seats in some areas.

In January Turkey has officially joined the list of countries which don't have the all-seater requirement. It now joins Germany, Austria, Poland, Scandinavia and Switzerland where regular standing sections are allowed (while more strict use of safe standing is also permitted in other countries).

The change in policy was opened by last year's Law no. 7182. While the piece of legislation is very controversial in its repressive aspect (expanding matchday policing and penalties), it also changed the definition of indivudual place in the stadium to no longer only mean individual seat but also a numbered portion of the stand itself.

In mid-January the Turkish FA (TFF) completed the proces by amending criterion no. 117 of its infrastructural regulations. Instead of “all seated” it now reads “all seated or standing (subject to approval by Ministry of Youth and Sports). This applies to all four professional leagues.

It means clubs and local authorities can now apply to remove seats of deliver new stadia without them, of course in designated areas only. Göztepe, whose new stadium we have just added (and learned of the legislative changes this way) are the most known case at this moment.

Göz Göz wanted to deliver their new stadium without seats behind the south goal, however TFF changes came too late not to install any seats for the opening game. That's why last Sunday there were temporary seats behind the goal, to be removed soon. With this move the stadium's capacity is expected to grow from 20,000 to 25,000.

© Izmir Belediyesi