The police commander in charge of the English football match at which 96 Liverpool supporters died in 1989 told an inquest on Tuesday that his failure to close a tunnel "was the direct cause" of the loss of lives.

The BBC reported that former chief superintendent David Duckenfield admitted he "froze" as the tragedy unfolded at the FA Cup semi-final in April 1989 between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, Sheffield.

Former Chief Superintendent of South Yorkshire Police, David Duckenfield. Credit:Reuters

Duckenfield was giving evidence at the Hillsborough inquest in Warrington, where jurors were told he had at least three minutes to "consider the consequences" of opening an exit gate at the stadium as a crowd of fans built up outside.

But he said he had "no idea" Liverpool fans would head for a tunnel which led to the already-packed terraces of the central pens at the Leppings Lane end of the ground.