The UK apologizes to families of 97 Liverpool soccer fans killed in a stadium crush 34 years ago

Fans hold up a tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. The British government apologized Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 to the families of 97 Liverpool soccer fans who died after a stadium crush 34 years ago, as it introduced a charter it said will sharply diminish the chances that others will endure the kinds of injustices they suffered. (AP Photo/Jon Super, file)

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By Associated Press

December 6, 2023 at 3:54 PM UTC

Updated on

December 6, 2023 at 6:13 PM UTC

LONDON (AP) — The British government apologized Wednesday to the families of 97 Liverpool soccer fans killed in a stadium crush 34 years ago for its delay in responding to a 2017 report meant to ensure the official cover-up in that case isn't repeated in other tragedies.

Six years after the report highlighted the “burning injustice” families faced in the wake of the tragedy, the government said it is introducing a charter, among other measures, aimed at preventing cover-ups of missteps by police or other public authorities.