Hillsborough

[McDermotX]

Yes, they should apologise.

I suspect that the majority of stadiums were not fit for purpose at that time. For that, they absolutely have to take some responsibility.

I suspect that the inevitable new inquest will apportion out some reprimand to the FA all the same. Even though they've complied with the Taylor report quite correctly, and ground standards and safety levels have improved, there's more than enough blame to go around for all the authorities before this is through.
Lack of a safety cert is paramount.

[McDermotX]

From Tony Barrett of The Times

Interesting that Royal & Sun Alliance (Sheff Wed's insurers) refused to release documents to the HIP. Make your own minds up about that.

[McDermotX]

With criminal cases probably following these revelations, i don't expect the FA to be admitting to anything any time soon.

@sportingintel: Note from FA lawyers in Aug 1989: 'It went without saying the FA should not make any admissions on liability.' http://t.co/iQoBBynA

Dan Roan @danroan

Many of you also wondering if an apology may leave FA open to subsequent legal action. That could be a factor of course...

[Vermilion]

Lucas Leiva @LucasLeiva87
Good morning everyone . For respect of 96 I didn't tweet yesterday.

Class.

[Shaggy]

This is some read. Harrowing stuff.

http://hillsborough.independent.gov....0001100001.pdf

I'd recommend everyone reads this, no matter how difficult it is.

[Chazza]

Sir Norman Bettison has 'nothing to hide'
Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, who was involved in the South Yorkshire Police investigation after the Hillsborough disaster, said:

“I really welcome the disclosure of all the facts that can be known because I have absolutely nothing to hide.

[Shaggy]

Oliver Kay @OliverKayTimes
I'm assured David Bernstein will apologise for the FA's mistakes over Hillsborough in a broadcast interview later today. That's a relief

[Imy]

This is some read. Harrowing stuff.

http://hillsborough.independent.gov....0001100001.pdf

I don't know what to say, heartbreaking

[Gingawaria]

This is some read. Harrowing stuff.

http://hillsborough.independent.gov....0001100001.pdf

Bloody hell...that's horrific.

Felt sick reading most of it.

[Eric Swindler]

Apologies are worthless at this stage. After all, the 'guilty' parties have little choice but to apologise given the weight of damning information that has now come to public light.

[Shaggy]

DEFIANT former Merseyside police chief constable Norman Bettison today said fans’ behaviour at the Hillsborough disaster made the job of the police harder than it needed to be.

In a lenghty statement he said he accepted that the main reason for the tragedy that claimed 96 lives was a lack of police control.

But he added: “Fans behaviour, to the extent that it was relevant at all, made the job of the police, in the crush outside Leppings Lane turnstiles, harder than it needed to be.

“But it didn’t cause the disaster any more than the sunny day that encouraged people to linger outside the stadium as kick off approached.”

Mr Bettison worked for South Yorkshire Police at the time of the tragedy and was involved in the force’s response to the disaster.

Liverpool MP Maria Eagle accused Mr Bettison in Parliament in 1998 of being part of a “black propaganda unit” that smeared Liverpool fans.

Today she added her voice to that of Trevor Hicks, of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, in calling for Mr Bettison to resign.

In a lengthy statement he defended his actions and made clear he will not resign as chief constable of West Yorkshire Police.

His statement said: “The more we learn about events, the more we may understand. I sat through every single day of the Taylor Inquiry, in the summer of 1989. I learned so much.

"Taylor was right in saying that the disaster was caused, mainly, through a lack of police control. Fans behaviour, to the extent that it was relevant at all, made the job of the police, in the crush outside Leppings Lane turnstiles, harder than it needed to be. But it didn’t cause the disaster any more than the sunny day that encouraged people to linger outside the stadium as kick off approached.

“I held those views then, I hold them now. I have never, since hearing the Taylor evidence unfold, offered any other interpretation in public or private.

“It is against that backcloth that any documents with my name attached, out of the 400,000 revealed, must be seen. For example, the reference to preparation for the contributions hearing (the Court case to recover contributions to damages from Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and the stadium engineers who were also found, by Taylor, to be at fault) was to position South Yorkshire Police’s liability against the Football Club, the stadium engineers and the Council which issued a defective safety certificate it was NOT to apportion any blame whatsoever to the fans.

“In the absence of all the facts, I was called upon to resign 14 years ago, when I became the Chief Constable of Merseyside. I really welcome the disclosure of all the facts that can be known about the Hillsborough tragedy because I have absolutely nothing to hide. I read the 395 page report from cover to cover last night and that remains my position.

"The panel, in my view, has produced a piece of work that will stand the test of time and scrutiny. Whilst not wishing to become a conducting rod for all the genuine and justified hurt and anguish, I would invite anyone to do the same as me and read the document and the papers online. They document, in detail, my personal actions in respect of the Hillsborough tragedy, which were, in summary, as follows:-

“I purchased a ticket and was an off-duty spectator at the match. As soon as I realised the unfolding tragedy, I put myself on duty, giving immediate assistance behind the south stand. I later set up a receiving centre, at a local police station, for supporters who had become separated from friends and family (see my contemporaneous statement on line).

“In 1989, I was a Chief Inspector in a non-operational role at Headquarters. Four days after the disaster (and after all the vile newspaper coverage had been written) I was one of several officers pulled together by the then Deputy Chief Constable, Peter Hays, to support him in piecing together what had taken place at the event.

“By that time, the Chief Constable, Peter Wright, had handed over the formal investigation of the tragedy to an independent Police Force, West Midlands Police. It was West Midlands Police that presented evidence before the Taylor Inquiry. The South Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable’s team, under the leadership of Chief Superintendent Wain, was a parallel activity to inform Chief Officers of facts rather than rely on the speculation rampant at that time.

"Another team was later created (see Hillsborough Independent Panel Report pages 54 and 55; page 186 (particularly para 2.6.35 which distinguishes the two separate teams; and page 319), to work with the solicitors who were representing South Yorkshire Police at the Taylor Inquiry, to vet statements from South Yorkshire Police Officers that were intended to be presented to the Inquiry (see Hillsborough Independent Panel Report Part 2, Chapter 11). I was not a member of that team. I never altered a statement nor asked for one to be altered. Two South Yorkshire Police teams have been conflated in the minds of some commentators.

"I subsequently sat through each day of the Taylor Inquiry, briefing the South Yorkshire Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable on a regular basis. These briefings acknowledged and accepted the responsibility of the Force in the disaster. The evidence was overwhelming.

"Shortly after the conclusion of the Taylor Inquiry, I was posted to other duties. I had nothing further to do with the subsequent Coroners Inquests and proceedings, other than occasional advice because of my knowledge of the evidence presented to the Taylor Inquiry."

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/hillsborough/hillsborough-news/2012/09/13/norman-bettison-statement-defends-his-hillsborough-actions-and-says-fans-behaviour-made-policing-harder-100252-31827718/2/

[Gingawaria]

Apologies are worthless at this stage. After all, the 'guilty' parties have little choice but to apologise given the weight of damning information that has now come to public light.

I wouldn't say they're worthless, they're 23 years too late but an apology is acknowledgement that there has been wrongdoing. What happens next is the question?

[Gingawaria]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...52-31827718/2/

[Shaggy]

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said he was "very, very sorry" for comments he made in a 2004 article about Liverpool fans being partly to blame for the Hillsborough disaster.

[Chris]

Bettison as self serving and repulsive as ever I see.