First published in The Times, January 30, 1990

Lord Justice Taylor yesterday delivered a swingeing criticism of the state of modern football in his final and comprehensive report into safety at sports grounds in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster.

Few involved with the national sport escape unscathed from what the judge says is a malaise or blight overshadowing the game. Although his interim report on the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 95 Liverpool supporters, concentrated on overcrowding, he says the deeper inquiry shows it to be one of a number of factors causing danger and marring football as a spectator sport.

He paints a disturbing picture of old and outdated grounds, poor facilities, hooliganism, excessive drinking, poor leadership by those involved in the game, of complacency even in the aftermath of the worst sporting disaster this country has known and, perhaps worst of all, of previous reports on crowd control going unheeded.

Tragedy on the terraces

• 'Mayhem' after gate was opened

• 'We watched them die, innocent figures, lying prostrate and crushed on the green grass'

• Doctors attack 'total chaos' of rescue effort

Police in 'open gate' inquiry

• The man who opened the gate

• Force condemned for failing to avert turnstile disaster

• Senior officers were not willing to concede fault

Mother tells of losing husband and son as she witnessed crush on TV

• Names of the supporters who died are released

• Liverpool welcomes vindication of fans' behaviour

• Thatcher hears of heroic courage

Anfield Kop becomes silent focus of city's mourning

• Thousands at requiem mass as Liverpool mourns deaths

• Sombre lessons soccer failed to learn

In the initial chapter of his 109-page report, headed ``Three sombre lessons after Hillsborough'', Lord Justice Taylor says: ``It is a depressing and chastening fact that mine is the ninth official report covering crowd safety and control at football grounds. After eight previous reports and three editions of the Green Guide, it seems astounding that 95 people could die from overcrowding before the very eyes of those controlling the event.''

The lessons of past disasters and the recommendations following them have not been taken sufficiently to heart, seemingly for two main reasons. Firstly, because of insufficient concern and vigilance for the safety and well-being of spectators, compounded by a preoccupation with anti-hooligan measures and, secondly, because of complacency which led all parties to think that because a disaster had not occurred on previous occasions it would not happen this time.

Lord Justice Taylor said that, even after Hillsborough, it was ``chilling'' to hear the same refrain from directors at several clubs he had visited; that ``Hillsborough was horrible, but of course it couldn't happen here''. As part of his inquiry the judge visited modern stadiums in Scotland, Holland, France and Italy as well as grounds in England and Wales. He says that where improvements have been made to many of our grounds they have often been piecemeal and patchy, an approach which, in itself, is a threat to safety.

He says: ``I hope I have made it clear that the years of patching up grounds, of having periodic disasters and narrowly avoiding many others by muddling through on a wing and a prayer must be over. A totally new approach across the whole field of football requires higher standards both in bricks and mortar and in human relationships.''

He reserves withering criticism for the way clubs have treated paying customers; facilities have often been ``lamentable'' and ``squalid'' with the whole ``inhospitable scene'' tending to breed bad manners and poor behaviour.

The report traces the familiar ills of football increasing hooliganism during the 1970s, violence, chanting of racist and abusive taunts, and measures taken by police and clubs to try and cope. Segregation of grounds to keep rival supporters apart and large-scale police operations to ensure peace around the venues have been costly both in terms of manpower and disruption. Last year the cost of policing football in London alone was some Pounds 10 million, of which only Pounds 1 million could be recovered from clubs. ``I know of no other sport or entertainment in a civilized country in which it is necessary to keep those attending from attacking each other.'' Segregation has not solved the problem and may have intensified it.

Lord Justice Taylor says he agrees with the analysis of the hooligan problem presented by Mr Justice Popplewell in his report into the Bradford fire and that there is no simple explanation for the misbehaviour attached to football, nor a single remedy.

Alcohol remains a main factor in hooliganism in spite of legislation banning sales or possession inside grounds and the carrying of alcohol on public services and hired vehicles taking people to matches. The judge criticizes the hierarchy inside football for failing to enforce good behaviour and ensure safety and comfort of spectators.