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Hillsborough inquest: FA did not consider safety at semi-final grounds Hillsborough inquest: FA 'did not consider safety' at semi-final grounds
(35 minutes later)
The Football Association "was not interested" in the safety of supporters when selecting an appropriate ground to host an FA Cup semi-final, a former FA official has told the inquest into the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters at the 1989 Hillsborough semi-final.The Football Association "was not interested" in the safety of supporters when selecting an appropriate ground to host an FA Cup semi-final, a former FA official has told the inquest into the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters at the 1989 Hillsborough semi-final.
The FA did not ask whether a club had a safety certificate, if it had complied with the Home Office guide to safety at sports grounds, known as the green guide, nor any other questions relating to safety, the FA's former head of competitions and regulations in 1989, Adrian Titcombe, told the inquest.The FA did not ask whether a club had a safety certificate, if it had complied with the Home Office guide to safety at sports grounds, known as the green guide, nor any other questions relating to safety, the FA's former head of competitions and regulations in 1989, Adrian Titcombe, told the inquest.
The inquest jury has already heard that Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground did not have a valid, up-to-date safety certificate and was in several different respects on the Leppings Lane terrace in breach of the green guide. The inquest jury has already heard that Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground did not have a valid, up-to-date safety certificate and was in breach of the green guide in several different respects with the Leppings Lane terrace.
Titcombe said that in the 1980s, the FA regarded safety issues, for example "injuries due to crushing," as "outside our remit". Titcombe said that in the 1980s, the FA regarded safety issues, for example "injuries due to crushing", as "outside our remit".
Titcombe said that the FA "worked on the basis that everything was in place if we were not made aware of issues" by the club itself, the local authority or police. Asked by Christina Lambert QC, for the inquest, whether any concerns were raised to the FA, football's governing body, Titcombe replied: "No, I cannot recall any club or any ground being ruled out on the basis of safety considerations." He said that the FA "worked on the basis that everything was in place if we were not made aware of issues" by the club itself, the local authority or police. Asked by Christina Lambert QC, for the inquest, whether any concerns were raised to the FA, football's governing body, Titcombe replied: "No, I cannot recall any club or any ground being ruled out on the basis of safety considerations."
The crushing on the Leppings Lane terrace during the 1981 FA Cup semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, when 38 supporters were injured and a large group evacuated from that end, did not count against Hillsborough hosting a semi-final again, Titcombe said. The crush on the Leppings Lane terrace during the 1981 FA Cup semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, when 38 supporters were injured and a large group evacuated from that end, did not count against Hillsborough hosting a semi-final again, Titcombe said.
FA Cup semi-finals were an important source of money for the FA, he said, so when selecting the ground, they took into account its capacity and how many seats there were, for which more money was charged, compared to the cheaper tickets to stand. The FA made a net profit of £265,000, worth £570,000 today, from selling tickets and other income for the 1989 Hillsborough semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, and more from the sale of UK and overseas TV rights. FA Cup semi-finals were an important source of money for the FA, he said, so when selecting the ground, they took into account its capacity and how many seats there were, for which more money was charged, compared with the cheaper tickets to stand. The FA made a net profit of £265,000 – worth £570,000 today – from selling tickets and other income for the 1989 Hillsborough semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, and more from the sale of UK and overseas TV rights.
Titcombe said there was rivalry for the hosting of semi-finals between clubs, who could keep 10% of the gate receipts. Part of their obligation was to put on a lunch for the directors and representatives of the two competing clubs, and FA "dignitaries," he explained. Titcombe said there was rivalry for the hosting of semi-finals between clubs, who could keep 10% of the gate receipts. Part of their obligation was to put on a lunch for the directors and representatives of the two competing clubs, and FA "dignitaries", he explained.
"There was a certain rivalry to make the occasion as convivial, and the menu as attractive, as possible," he said."There was a certain rivalry to make the occasion as convivial, and the menu as attractive, as possible," he said.
After the 1988 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough between the same two clubs, Titcombe said he was not aware there had been congestion outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles, nor overcrowding in the terrace's central "pens". He had written to Graham Mackrell, the Sheffield Wednesday secretary, to congratulate him on the event's success, telling him that Hillsborough is "firmly reinstalled on the semi-final scene, and Doug Ellis will have to look to his laurels." After the 1988 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough between the same two clubs, Titcombe said, he was not aware there had been congestion outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles, nor overcrowding in the terrace's central pens. He had written to Graham Mackrell, the Sheffield Wednesday secretary, to congratulate him on the event's success, telling him that Hillsborough was "firmly reinstalled on the semi-final scene, and Doug Ellis will have to look to his laurels".
The coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, attempting to clarify that Doug Ellis was then the chairman of Aston Villa, said "Aston Martin" by mistake. There was laughter in the converted court room in Warrington.The coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, attempting to clarify that Doug Ellis was then the chairman of Aston Villa, said "Aston Martin" by mistake. There was laughter in the converted court room in Warrington.
The relevant FA committee that determined Hillsborough should host the 1989 semi-final made the decision after a discussion lasting "not more than 10 minutes," the inquest heard. The relevant FA committee that determined Hillsborough should host the 1989 semi-final made the decision after a discussion lasting "not more than 10 minutes", the inquest heard.
The chief executive of Liverpool football club at the time of the disaster, Peter Robinson, had telephoned the FA straight after the semi-final draw was made, to ask that unlike 1988, his club, which had a bigger support, should not be given the Leppings Lane end, but the larger allocation at the opposite end. The inquest heard that Robinson's request was not passed at all to the FA committee. The chief executive of Liverpool football club at the time of the disaster, Peter Robinson, had telephoned the FA straight after the semi-final draw had been made, to ask that unlike 1988, his club, which had more support, should not be given the Leppings Lane end, but the larger allocation at the opposite end. The inquest heard that Robinson's request was not passed on to the FA committee.
Mark George QC, for 22 families whose relatives were killed in the lethal crush in the central "pens" of the Leppings Lane terrace at the 1989 Hillsborough semi-final, put to Titcombe: "The FA was primarily concerned with raising as much money from the posh seats as possible and having a jolly good day out at the hospitality of the host club. Is that unfair?" Mark George QC, for 22 families whose relatives were killed in the lethal crush in the central pens of the Leppings Lane terrace at the 1989 Hillsborough semi-final, suggested to Titcombe: "The FA was primarily concerned with raising as much money from the posh seats as possible and having a jolly good day out at the hospitality of the host club. Is that unfair?"
"Yes, I believe it is," Titcombe replied."Yes, I believe it is," Titcombe replied.
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.