More than two decades after the tragic events at Hillsborough Stadium that claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans, an independent investigation has uncovered and revealed some disturbing details about the incident.
According to a report released Wednesday, police and security authorities, who deflected the blame for the 1989 stampede on Liverpool fans and covered up the true details, could have done more to prevent the incident, and as many as 41 of the 96 who perished could have survived had they received treatement in a more timely manner.
"It is evident from analysis of the various investigations that from the outset South Yorkshire Police sought to deflect responsibility for the disaster on to Liverpool fans," the Hillsborough Independent Panel determined.
British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a public apology, saying, ''New evidence that we are presented with today makes clear that these families have suffered a double injustice. The injustice of the appalling events, the failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth, and the injustice of the denigration of the deceased – that they were somehow at fault for their own deaths. On behalf of the government – and indeed our country – I am profoundly sorry for this double injustice that has been left uncorrected for so long."
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
INIESTA SUFFERS MUSCLE STRAIN
Reinging UEFA Best Player in Europe award winner Andres Iniesta is facing up to the next 15 days on the sidelines after suffering a muscle strain in Spain's 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Georgia on Tuesday.
As a result, Iniesta will miss Barcelona's UEFA Champions League opener against Spartak Moscow in addition to a league game against a Getafe side that has already sprung an upset of Real Madrid earlier this La Liga season.
VAN PERSIE INJURY DEEMED NOT SERIOUS
Netherlands and Manchester United fans held their collective breath as Robin van Persie was forced out of Tuesday's World Cup qualifying win over Hungary with a thigh injury, but according to Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, there is little cause for concern. Van Gaal claimed that Van Persie was taken off as a precaution and that the injury is not serious.
With Wayne Rooney already on the shelf as he recovers from a gash to his thigh, United did not want to see Van Persie, their major summer acquisition, go down for an extended period of time. It is unclear whether Van Persie will miss any matches for the Red Devils.
The news comes on the heels of United's other big acquisition, Shinji Kagawa, claiming that the back injury that prevented him from playing in Japan's World Cup qualifier against Iraq will not keep him out for a long period of time either.
FULHAM ADD KARAGOUNIS
Even after a busy transfer period for Fulham, one that saw some of the team's biggest names change addresses, the club is not done rebuilding. Fulham signed Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis on a free transfer, adding the 35-year-old midfielder who most recently played for Panathinaikos.
Karagounis, who had been linked to MLS through various reports and has a record 120 caps for Greece, will be with Fulham until the end of this season. He was a vital part of Greece's Euro 2012 team that made it to the knockout stage, but he was suspended for the quarterfinal match against Germany after accumulating a second yellow in the group finale and watched as hide bowed out.
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What do you make of the Hillsborough findings? Do you see Barcelona suffering over the next two weeks without Iniesta? Relieved that Van Persie's injury does not appear to be serious? Do you think Karagounis will prove to be a valuable asset for Fulham?
Share your thoughts below.