Allegation that Norman Bettison told people SYP was trying blame fans
The IOPC also investigated some wider allegations that Norman Bettison told fellow students on an MBA course that SYP was trying to concoct a story and blame Liverpool supporters for the disaster. This was further explored at the Goldring Inquests, with two former students giving evidence about what he had said (separately) to them.
While there are strong consistencies between the accounts of these two individuals, there were also some differences, including around the date it occurred. The IOPC also spoke to several other students from the same group. Though all remembered Norman Bettison taking time off from the course to assist with SYP’s response to the disaster, they did not recall him suggesting anything improper.
In short, the balance of evidence did not support the allegation.