I have a lot of sympathy for stewards who just aren’t equipped to deal with what is effectively crown control issues. If people are doubling-up what’s a 4’11 wee lassie stewed going to be able to do about it?
The steward I spoke to last night had no solution other than find an empty seat. With the number of latecomers I wasn’t keen on having the same issue happen so I asked if I could stand at the exit and watch the game until it was clear that seats were actually available.
I have sympathy for them too there are some very difficult and entitled individuals around.
It would be good if the freeloading scroats that do this would pay their way and not have the bare faced nerve to do a fellow bear out of a seat.
There also seems to be other issues that are hard for stewards to provide solutions for.
However.
When it comes right down to it stewards should be equipped and trained to deal with crowd control issues.Thats one of their functions.
Whether they are 4'11 or 6'3 I wouldn't be expecting them to enter into unarmed combat to stop someone going through a turnstile who was doubling up.
They should however have some level of confidence and ablity to be able to challenge people who are right in front of them and not ignore it.
This might sound harsh but If they haven't then give them other duties or do not employ them.(There has also been accounts of groups of stewards ignoring this behaviour)
There should be a system of being able to follow up and eject anyone who continues on and hasn't got proof of a ticket and was seen to double up.Thats what cctv and radios are for.
If they don't leave then it's a police matter.
I'm not sure of the legality however it may be seen as a form of fraud to avoid payment for a service.
As for size then I'll say that there are more than a few authorative and commanding individuals who can assert themselves.
Some of them are "wee lassies". Again as I said there should be a system of reporting up
these occurances and a system put in place to tackle it.It definitely should not be a free for all.
There might be a system for tackling this and its the case that its just not used ?
In light of the circumstances that you describe I would do exactly what you did.When it comes right down to it I expect the stewards to try and sort any seat issues that I cant in the first instance.
I always screen shot my ticket as even 5g was gubbed for me outside of Ibrox at the Leipzig game.However it appears to be the case that even this might not help sort problems that have been described in the post.