A Hillsborough survivor and Liverpool MP has slammed comments from veteran broadcaster Andy Gray after problems with fans getting into Arsenal's stadium this weekend.
The Premier League was back underway this weekend and the early kick off on Saturday saw Nottingham Forest travel to Arsenal. But kick off had to be delayed at The Emirates Stadium as thousands of fans could not get through the turnstiles.
The problems were put down to a new e-ticket system, which has been brought in by the London club this season and appeared to have teething issues leading to the problems outside the ground.
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In a discussion about the situation on international broadcaster beIN sports, Andy Gray's co-host Richard Keys said: "What Arsenal have rightly, or I suppose the police have rightly done, is to say look, there could be an issue here."
His co-host then said then interrupted him and said: "Open the gates." A surprised Keys then replied with: "Eh?" with Mr Gray adding: "Let them in."
Richard Keys said: "Well you can’t just open the gates." But Mr Gray insisted: "Yes you can." At this point Mr Keys reminded his co-host of what happened at the Hillsborough disaster, when 97 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed in a stadium crush.
Mr Gray then added: "You just let them through as you would do normally. All those people there have got tickets right."
The former Everton player was promptly called out for his comments on social media, with the Hillsborough Survivors Alliance calling his words 'ridiculous and thoughtless.'
Another to respond was Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, a lifelong Liverpool fan who was at Hillsborough on the day of disaster and is now campaigning to educate all generations about the truth of what happened on that day in 1989 and in the years following.
Mr Byrne tweeted: "'Open the gates" - "just let them in" - Commentary which chills the soul. What was Andy Gray thinking."
Speaking to the ECHO, Mr Byrne added: "It was staggering that someone of his experience in the game, who played in Liverpool for Everton and has commentated for so long would make such a stupid statement. I found it hard to comprehend.
"You would think someone in Andy Gray's position has had every opportunity to learn about incidents like Hillsborough and what can go wrong. It was just idiotic.
"Clearly we have still got a long way to go and lots of work to do."
Mr Gray apologised for his comments on the channel on Sunday, accepting that his phrasing had been clumsy and saying he was sorry for any upset caused.
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