Twenty years ago today some erroneous decisions led to an unexpected, unmitigated disaster at Hillsborough stadium. Decisions made by security and police in managing the Liverpool crowd at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final clash between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The crush caused by allowing a ridiculous number of people to swarm into a restricted area killed 94 people within the day, with another two dying of their injuries later. Today marks the 20th anniversary of this tragedy.
The Hillsborough disaster is a good example of the kind of situations police are expected to deal with, that may well be beyond the capability of any organisation, let alone individual, to predict or handle competently. When small errors compound and lead, in minutes, to death. The speed of the unfolding drama no doubt totally outdid the officers involved, allowing them to be scrutinised and found wanting by the ocular clarity of hindsight.
But was there an undercurrent of bigotry by the authorities against football fans? I certainly hope not, but UK football hooliganism is legendary. There were accusations after the event that the drunken and out-of-control state of Liverpool fans was to blame for the disaster, but that was not upheld as more than an extraneous factor by the inquiry. The Sun newspaper used some second- or third-hand reported information to run a smear story about appalling actions by Liverpool fans, all unsubstantiated. By and large, however, the response was touching, particularly from fellow football clubs. Bitter rivals on the field, many clubs marked the sad event in the days, weeks, and on significant anniversaries that followed.
The lingering question of why the ambulances were turned away, and whether more victims could have been saved, may never be answered. There are families still seeking the truth.