The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
Former Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray has been slammed by a Hillsborough disaster survivor for suggesting to ‘open the gates’ amid the turnstile chaos at Arsenal.
The Gunners’ clash with Nottingham Forest was delayed by 30 minutes after fans had trouble getting into the ground due to e-ticketing issues.
TNT Sports reported that 35,000 fans had not yet entered the stadium shortly before the originally slated 12.30pm kick-off, as the Gunners’ new ticketing procedure at the Emirates caused problems getting into the ground.
Gray suggested on beIN Sports that Arsenal should have opened the gates for fans – an opinion that his long-time television partner Richard Keys disagreed with.
A survivor of the Hillsborough Disaster also had a strong opinion on the matter, after crowding at the stadium in 1989 led to the death of 97 Liverpool fans.
Former Sky pundit Andy Gray has been criticised for suggesting Arsenal should have ‘opened the gates’ after turnstile chaos led to their game with Nottingham Forest being delayed
The game was delayed 30 minutes due to an issue with the club’s new e-ticketing procedure to get fans inside the stadium
Hillsborough survivors have hit out at Gray’s comments after 97 fans died in a crush in the 1989 tragedy
Labour MP Ian Byrne was 17 when he went to watch the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
He left early when the girlfriend he was watching the game with felt uneasy, but witnessed Liverpool fans crushed to death, and he has reacted strongly to a clip of Gray’s comments.
He tweeted: ‘”Open the gates” – “just let them in” – Commentary which chills the soul. What was Andy Gray thinking.’
Gray’s comments came after beIN Sports host Keys explained why the match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest had been delayed to 1pm.
The 67-year-old former striker said: ‘Open the gates. Let them in.’
When Keys responded: ‘You can’t just open the gates,’ Gray insisted: ‘Yes you can.’
Keys then added: ‘That would be even worse.’
Labour MP Ian Byrne who attended the game at Hillsborough in 1989 said Gray’s comments ‘chilled the soul’
Gray continued to repeat his point though added: ‘You just let them in like normally. All those people there have got tickets right?’
Keys questioned ‘well you don’t know,’ to which Gray said: ‘Of course they have.’
Gray again questioned his long-time television partner as he said: ‘Well you don’t know. Anyway, in order for things to be done correctly we will have a 30 minute delay and we’ll get these people as and when we can.’
The Hillsborough Survivors Supporters Alliance also tweeted: ‘Andy Gray “open the gates” “just let them in” what a ridiculous and thoughtless comment.’
Electronic tickets caused the issue at the Emirates Stadium, while those with paper tickets were easily able to get in.
Gray and Keys were both sacked from Sky in 2011 after both made derogatory comments about female referee Sian Massey and the fitness of women to officiate at matches – for which they later apologised.
After their exit, Keys attributed the comments to a ‘misguided fun’ and ‘lads mag banter’.
He later said: ‘Prehistoric banter isn’t acceptable in the modern world. I accept that. We failed to change when the world has changed. We wholeheartedly apologise for our behaviour. It was wrong. I deserve to be battered. I can stand up and take a beating. I’m not sorry for me, I’m sorry for Sian Massey.’
