Safe standing areas could soon be introduced at Scottish Premier League stadiums after the SPL agreed to consider requests to pilot the concept.
The relaxation of their rules on standing was announced following a general meeting of all 12 clubs.
Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPL, said: ”Since I joined the SPL in 2009, there has been widespread support amongst fans to reintroduce safe standing areas.
”I am delighted that we have been able to respond positively to supporters’ views on improving the match day experience.”
Celtic and Motherwell are among the clubs who have expressed interest in the idea, although applications for standing areas will also have to be approved by local council safety committees and police.
SPL rules currently state that teams must only use seated areas with a minimum of 6,000 seats per stadium.
Scotland is not bound by the law which banned standing areas in top-flight football in England, which came in to force after the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson pointed out that the safe standing zones could be costly to install and that the Tannadice club would not be looking to introduce them ”in the near future”.
The standing sections would be similar to those in Germany where grounds have staggered barriers on every fourth step.
These can be easily removed and replaced with seating for international and European club games that operate under all-seater rules.
Thompson added: ”It won’t be like a return to terracing. It could well be the case that the charge will be higher to stand in one of the areas than it would be to sit.”
Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston noted: ”We would have to get it properly costed. We’re not against the idea though.”
St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown said: ”It would be our intention to monitor safe standing areas at other grounds and in principle we would not rule out any initiative which could improve the match day experience for existing supporters or encourage more fans to come to watch SPL football.”
Meanwhile, it was also revealed that, after discussions within the Joint Action Group formed to tackle sectarianism, there will be widening of what constitutes ”unacceptable conduct” with an independent commission to be set up as the final arbiter.
An SPL statement read: ”The amendments to the existing unacceptable conduct rules were put forward following discussions within the Joint Action Group and are part of football’s commitment to protect and maintain the good reputation of the game in Scotland.
”The definition of unacceptable conduct within the SPL rules has been extended to include ‘using words, conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000’.
”A number of amendments to the accompanying guidance notes which set out the minimum standards expected of SPL clubs in relation to tackling unacceptable conduct will also be introduced.
”Where a charge is to be laid that a club has not met the requirements of the unacceptable conduct rules, the case will be heard by an independent commission.”
Doncaster said: ”Changes to our rules on unacceptable conduct raise the bar in terms of what is expected of clubs and shows our clubs are committed to playing their part in tackling unacceptable conduct.”
The introduction of an independent panel comes after criticism that the SPL has been too lenient in tackling behaviour by supporters.
Earlier this year, Celtic manager Neil Lennon expressed surprise and disappointment that the SPL took no action against Hearts over the incident that saw him confronted by a fan on the touchline at Tynecastle.