The kick-off for the 1989 FA Cup semi-final should have been delayed, a football policing expert has told the Hillsborough inquests.
The tragedy, which left 96 people dead when fans tried to crush into Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground, is being examined in a probe made up of multiple inquests.
Giving evidence on Thursday at an inquest in Warrington, retired police chief Douglas Hopkins said a "competent" match commander would have reacted to the heavy build-up of fans outside the ground by putting the match back.
Turnstile figures showed that up to 5800 Liverpool supporters had still not entered seven turnstiles to the Leppings Lane terrace with just 30 minutes to the 3pm kick-off.
But the game started on time and was abandoned at 3.06pm as fans were crushed in the central pens after match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield ordered the opening of an exit gate.
Hopkins - a former match commander at Arsenal's Highbury stadium between 1987 and 1991 - also said Duckenfield did not have enough experience for the role.
Looking at CCTV footage of the gates to the turnstiles at about 2.30pm, Hopkins said: "Just looking on that image I would already be considering putting the kick-off back or going to a ticket-tearing entry system to relieve that pressure on the crowd."
Moving on to footage of congestion outside the turnstiles between 2.35 and 2.40pm, Hopkins said police were being "reactive when you need to start getting proactive" and it was "obvious" the game had to be delayed.
"You have got to calm that crowd down and you have got put the kick-off back.
"That crowd there has one intention. They want to see a football match and they want to be in by kick-off."
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