In the completely overcrowded standing room blocks three and four of Hillsborough Stadium, people fought for their lives.

But instead of answering the calls for help, the police opened more gates – and the tragedy followed.

Spectators were pressed against the fence or trampled on in the mass panic.

A total of 97 people died and 766 were injured.

With this disaster, standing room in England was history.

Until now.

Because in the motherland of football, taboos are being broken.

33 years after Hillsborough, the government has given the go-ahead for standing room to be reinstated, for many fans across the island it's a return to football's roots.

Test phase for "Safe Standing" completed

"Thanks to robust testing, thorough evidence and modern technology, we are now ready to allow standing room in our stadiums again," said Nadine Dorries, UK Secretary for Sport, Culture, Media and Digital.

Since January, champions Manchester City, record champions Manchester United and Chelsea FC, among others, have taken part in a test phase for so-called "safe standing".

"We're delighted to be expanding standing room," enthused Nigel Huddleston, Secretary of State for Sport. "It's a big day for football, a big day for the fans."

The situation in standing room areas is now completely different from the Hillsborough days.

"This isn't the old grandstand anymore, this is a whole different world and safety is paramount," Huddleston said.

All Premier and Second Division teams can apply to convert to standing room, but must meet the government's "strict safety criteria" to be permitted.

Licenses have already been granted for eight stadiums, and numerous other applications are expected to follow in the coming weeks.

Wembley is also being converted for the national cup competitions, but the international match against Germany in September will only take place with seats in accordance with international guidelines.

The standing area at Wembley will initially consist of two areas, each seating 1000, behind both goals.

Thanks to improved video surveillance, in the future, even with standing room, you will “know exactly who is in each individual seat and in each individual area,” emphasized Huddleston.

Unlike back then in Hillsborough during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest, where blocks three and four were overcrowded while there was still plenty of room next door.

As a result, in 1994 a general ban on standing room was issued for the top two divisions.

Jürgen Klopp is also happy about the current roll backwards, an even better mood seems possible.

"I like the idea.

I am sure that people will deal with it responsibly," said the Liverpool FC team manager at the beginning of the test phase.

It was “the right moment” for change.