Yes. The problem was, due to the stadium design (you couldn't see into the stand from the tunnel), everyone surging in (so as not to miss kick-off) went straight down the tunnel into the 2 central pens, which were already full, instead of into the pens to either side, where there was room. You can see here how there's plenty of room in the pen closest to the camera:
Before opening the gate, the police should have closed off the tunnel to the central pens and directed the incoming fans to the pens to either side.
This was the normal procedure under the previous game commander, but Duckenfield had never commanded a game at Hillsborough before and didn't know what he was doing.
There was certainly some inherent danger in the stadium due to bad design and crumbling crush barriers, but mostly the disaster was caused by a whole series of bad decisions by the police. And when people started dying, many of the police actively hindered attempt to help. They pushed people trying to escape back into the pens. They wouldn't let ambulances into the ground. They arrested people tearing down hoardings to use as stretchers.
Many of the victims weren't taken to hospital. They were dumped in a gym without medical attention and left to die, while coppers stood around stuffing their faces with fried chicken.
Literally while people were still being crushed to death, the police started their cover-up and smear campaign.
Yeah I know (more or less) what happened inside and that fans not being directed to the side pens was more of a factor than the gate being opened, but I was just wondering if opening the gate was absolutely necessary? Would it have been possible for a crush outside? If yes, what was the reason for that?
Because the police weren't managing the flow of people into that area due to the inexperience of the guy in charge. Previous years they done it before as it was a known risk but the new commander hadn't reviewed the risks properly prior to the game. It's all in the Gaurdian article.
