A survivor of the Hillsborough Disaster has backed calls for an investigation into the events at the ground at the weekend after Newcastle fans spoke of feeling 'unsafe' due to 'overcrowding'.
Ray Matthews, a survivor of the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 who now lives in Sunderland, has called for the FA and Sheffield Wednesday to look into the reports from Newcastle United fans claiming that stewarding was insufficient and that the ground itself felt 'unsafe' at the weekend.
Some 4,500 Newcastle United fans had travelled down to Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium to watch their side in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (January 7) with the majority of the away support located in the Leppings Lane end of the ground.
Read more: FA to investigate Hillsborough 'overcrowding' during Newcastle's clash with Sheffield Wednesday
One supporter told ChronicleLive that the management of crowds at Saturday's cup fixture 'could have been better', describing the scene at a stairwell inside the stand as a 'bottleneck'.
Another supporter, added that the 'whole situation felt quite unsafe' and that Saturday represented 'the worst experience' he has had inside a stadium from a safety point of view.
Ian Byrne, a survivor of the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 and now the MP for Liverpool West Derby leading the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, said that the pictures from the stadium at the weekend were 'chilling' to see.
He said: "The pictures from Saturday sent a chill to my heart and I’m sure it was exactly the same for all the families and survivors of the Hillsborough disaster who saw the images. To see such scenes at the same ground in 2023, 34 years on from 1989 and once again in the FA Cup, was extremely upsetting."
Mr Byrne has now called on the football authorities and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club to launch an enquiry into the events.
He added: "I’m just thankful on this occasion no Newcastle fans were injured or worse. We need the football authorities and Sheffield Wednesday to commit to a full enquiry to ensure this time they listen to the supporters and get to the truth of the events on Saturday."
Ray Matthews, who witnessed the horrors of the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 from the Leppings Lane end, has now joined the call for an investigation into the events of Saturday (January 7).
He said: "Obviously something happened. Stewarding and safety is very important, not just at Sheffield Wednesday, but for clubs in the lower leagues to put [it] right.
"It's very important that the [Hillsborough Law Now] gets passed sooner rather than later. It takes time, but it's very important it gets done."
He added his concerns that a similar situation could arise once more when Sheffield Wednesday take on their next opponents in the FA Cup, if an investigation does not take place.
"If Sheffield Wednesday get another Premier League club later in the cup are [fans] going to have the same [issues] as they did on Saturday?
"Questions need to be asked to the Sheffield Wednesday board [about] what has been done in the last five or ten years [to ensure safety]."
Ray acknowledges that it is hard to hear after 34 years after the Hillsborough Disaster that supporters are still feeling 'unsafe' in grounds.
"It is hard to hear, it's sensitive. There will be people at the ground on Saturday who weren't born probably. It's the elder people who will remember more but it needs sorting out sooner rather than later.
"When you see something like Hillsborough, you never forget. The FA being the governing body are supervising [and] it's up to the club to get it right and get the necessary things in place.
"It's important to get things up to scratch ASAP."
Chi Onwurah, the MP for Newcastle Central, called the reports of 'overcrowding' and safety risks as 'unacceptable' and said that she would be asking the Government what actions would be taken.
She 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. I will be asking the [Government] what actions they are taking in light of these events."
The Newcastle United Supporters' Trust are also appealing to supporters for information with the FA also pledging to investigate the events.
A spokesperson for the FA said: "We are aware of the matter in question, and we will be looking into it. This will focus on liaising closely with the clubs, police and appropriate safety authorities."
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: "While no official reports were made to SYP, we have noted the concerns raised and will be seeking a debrief with the club and Safety Advisory Group to discuss this matter further."
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club have been approached for comment surrounding the events.
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