‘Unacceptable’: Newcastle MP slams Hillsborough ‘overcrowding’ as worries reach Government

Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah has escalated concerns shared by Newcastle United fans who visited Sheffield Wednesday home ground of Hillsborough on Saturday and demanded change from the government.

The Magpies sold out their 4,500 allocation of tickets for the FA Cup game, which Newcastle lost 2-1, and a number of fans shared worrying experiences in the away game after The Times correspondent Martin Hardy reported there was "more or less no stewarding ten minutes before kick-off".

Newcastle supporters at the match labelled organisation a "disgrace" and "absolute chaos", as well as telling of having to "fight their way past each other". It is, of course, the same Leppings Lane End that saw tragedy at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, when 97 Liverpool supporters lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster.

The FA has already confirmed it is looking into the reports of concern and the Newcastle United Supporter's Trust is collecting evidence from fans to present to necessary bodies - the group did similar work to bring about change following a situation at Elland Road early in 2022.

Writing on Twitter, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central MP Chi Onwurah said: "34 years from the Hillsborough disaster at the same ground and same end - this is unacceptable. No fan should ever be subject to overcrowding and safety risks when attending a football match.

"Today, I will be asking the govt what actions they are taking in light of these events.

“This happened less than a year after #NUFC fans experienced similar safety issues at Elland Road. At the time, the govt said they were working with SGSA to ensure fan safety, yet this is another incident where fans are facing unacceptable safety risks."