I watched that game as it happened on live tv.
I only wanted to watch a special game of football (which was a rare thing on tv back in those days, compared to how it is now).
In real time, the events on that night didn't seem as bad as they subsequently turned out to be. Nobody seemed to mention that supporters had been killed iirc.
I'm not going into any great detail over what I saw, but some images are still in my minds' eye to this day.
The baton charge, the wall collapse, stretchers on the pitch with the injured (dead?) on them, the absolute panic and desperation as the realisation that a tragedy was really happening in plain sight (of the world).
Now taking all of that into consideration, the decision was made to clear the dead and dying off the pitch so the match could go ahead.
The horrible decision was made to ensure that 'NO MORE RIOTING WOULD HAPPEN', if the match should be abandoned.
That may have been the case, but having witnessed what had taken place, did the authorities think that there would still be loons 'up for a scrap'?! Maybe, possibly, definitely, who can say? If the thought that there were such individuals (scousers?) prepared to continue the ruckus, then that makes them violent criminals and murderers, and they should rightly be called out for it.
A fixture was fulfilled, innocent lives were ended and it meant diddly squat to the great and good in their finery. Those people have to take a good look at themselves too.
R.I.P. The 39
(they only wanted to watch a good game of football like myself).
