Ticket allocation for lifeblood supporters called into question at Hillsborough Inquests

The Hillsborough inquests have heard claims that 16% of Liverpool's ticket allocation for the 1989 match did not go to 'lifeblood supporters.'The court heard how former LFC chief executive Peter Robinson was quoted following the allocation of tickets at the ground that the FA showed “a complete disregard for the fans who are the lifeblood of the game.”But John Beggs QC, who represents three retired match commanders, said an internal Liverpool FC memo suggested 3,723 of the club's allocation of 23,542 went to directors, vice presidents, shareholders, players, executive club members and complimentary tickets.

"16% of this scare allocation was not going to the life blood supporters, was it?" asked Mr Beggs.The witness replied: "You cannot say that because the majority of the people who got them such as players and dirs. would have provided them for Liverpool supporters who were good friends."Mr Beggs continued: "What you also can’t say is how many of those supporters on ordinary average wages had to pay tout-inflated prices, can you?""I cannot," he replied.

The barrister asked Mr Robinson about a Liverpool game at Arsenal in November 1988.A police report, filed afterwards, was read to the court which suggested a "constant stream of locked out fans" who, it said, "were trying to gain entry without payment" were ejected from a building site on the south bank at Highbury and reserve police being called.

"You're not going to suggest that Liverpool supporters had an unblemished record?" asked Mr Beggs.Mr Robinson replied: "No I am not. I don't think any club has…. I do notice also that the police here had the good sense to delay the start of the game for 15 mins."Mr Beggs said screens had been set up at Tranmere Rovers' ground Prenton Park to show an all-ticket FA Cup fifth round semi-final between Hull and Liverpool.Mr Beggs said police expressed concern that a large number of Liverpool supporters without tickets would travel to Humberside causing serious crowd control problems outside the stadium.Mr Robinson said the initiative to screen the game on Merseyside came from LFC.

"Why didn't you do the same thing for 15th April 1989?" asked Mr Beggs.The witness responded: "Why didn't we? I don't know whether the FA would have given permission. Why the FA didn't have the game shown on live television, I don't know.""You know there was an issue with Liverpool supporters turning up throughout the late '80s to football matches without tickets and attempting to bunk in. You know that don’t you?" continued Mr Beggs.Mr Robinson replied: "I think there was a problem, a small problem yes, but that was quite common with many of the clubs.""It wasn't always a small problem though was it?" said Mr Beggs. "Kenny Dalglish, an icon of Liverpool Football Club, has made reference to one football match when he suggests 10,000 Liverpool supporters bunked in, and I use his words."The witness replied: "I don't think that can be correct around that stage, because there wouldn't have been that sort of capacity anywhere for people to bunk in."Mr Beggs concluded: "I will put it to Mr Dalglish when he comes, but that is the suggestion he made."