Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has accepted his failure to close the tunnel was the direct cause of the death of 96 people in April 1989.
Giving evidence during the new inquest into the disaster, Mr Duckenfield said it had been the most difficult period of his life to admit his professional failing led to the deaths.
Hillsborough match commander said "the buck stops with me" when questioned whether any blame lay with his late deputy.
Rajiv Menon QC, lawyer for 75 of the Hillsborough families, asked David Duckenfield, the former Chief Superintendent of South Yorkshire police, whether any blame lies with Bernard Murray, now deceased, his second in command on the day.
Duckenfield told the court: "Ultimately the buck stops with me. The easiest thing to do in my position is to blame others. And I'm not doing that."
Hillsborough match commander accepts his failure to close the tunnel was the direct cause of the death of 96 people in April 1989.
The police match commander at Hillsborough has said he thinks there was no conspiracy about the disaster.