The case against Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield is "breathtakingly unfair" as he was an "excellent police officer" taking the blame for others, a court has heard.

Benjamin Myers, defending Duckenfield, 74, addressed the jury at Preston Crown Court in his closing speech on Friday.

He said the stadiums and a sport plagued by hooliganism in the 1970s and 1980s were a "world away" from the football of today.

The retired South Yorkshire police chief superintendent, who sat in the well of the court wearing a navy blue suit, denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans who died at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989.

Mr Myers said it was obvious now, but not then, of the dangers of putting large numbers of people in confined spaces in pens.

But he said hooliganism was a huge problem in the 70s and 80s and affected the police's approach.

He added: "It is not suggested by us, and has never been suggested, what happened on the 15th of April 1989 was anything to do with crowd disorder or hooliganism by spectators there.

"It is relevant because the threat of hooliganism and fear of crowd violence cast a very long shadow over how football was policed at that time.