Hillsborough capacity reduced after Newcastle’s overcrowding complaints
Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium away-end capacity has been reduced by the city council after a review into complaints of “overcrowding and crushing” by Newcastle United supporters in an FA Cup tie, the Premier League club said on Monday.
Images and footage on social media showed congestion around the exit to the tunnel in the Leppings Lane end, with a number of Newcastle fans claiming there was a lack of stewarding before kick-off on 7 January. There were no reports of injuries.
Hillsborough was the scene of Britain’s worst sporting disaster in which 97 football supporters lost their lives after a crush in an overcrowded and fencedin enclosure in the Leppings Lane end before an FA Cup semi-final in 1989.
Sheffield city council contacted the Newcastle United Supporters Trust regarding the January game and consi-* dered about 50 accounts on aspects such as the number of stewards and incorrect information given to fans who were directed through the wrong turnstiles.
The Sports Grounds Safety Authority, the British government’s adviser on safety at sports venues, reviewed the incident with Wednesday and local officials.
“Regarding capacity reduction, we can advise that the Upper West Stand now has a further reduced capacity of 2,400 (down from 3,200 as a result of the recent review) for a stand with a holding capacity of 4,194,” the council told Newcastle.
“The Lower West Stand now has a further reduced capacity of 1,300 (down from 1,500 as a result of the recent review) for a stand with a holding capacity of 2,366.”