Heysel disaster: The darkest hour in European club football history
The Heysel disaster refers to the catastrophe that occurred at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels when Liverpool were to play Juventus in the final of the European Cup on May 29, 1985. A group of Liverpool supporters attacked the Juventus fans which led to many
casualties. The day is still remembered in memory of the fans who lost their lives on that day.
Liverpool and Juventus, who were European giants at the time and had won a combined seven European trophies prior, defeated Panathinaikos and Bordeaux respectively to reach the final. Almost an hour before the final, there was a clash between the two side’s
supporters in the stands Y and Z, located on the west side of the stadium.
A group of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 supporters breached the partition and stampeded towards the Juve fans. The retreating fans from the Italian club ran towards the terrace but a concrete wall separating the two enclosures could not take the load and fell. The collapse
led to the deaths of 39 Juventus fans and left almost 600 injured. The incident sparked fury among the Juventus fans in the stadium and there was violence in many stands. The fans threw stones at the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Police-c40244 and it was a highly tense situation before the kick
off.
The match continued despite objection from the managers of both the teams as it was felt that abandoning the match would cause more violence from the supporters of both sides. Juventus won the clash 1-0 but nobody could have imagined the extent of loss at
that point of time. There were blames on Belgian authorities for the lack of security provision and the poor condition of the Stadium itself. Liverpool CEO Peter Robinson had earlier requested a change in venue because of the sorry condition of the stadium
but UEFA had refused.
UEFA had an instant reaction to the incident and a ban of five years was implemented on all English clubs for participation in all European competitions. Liverpool were to serve a six year ban after the catastrophe as it was proved that there was alleged
involvement from the fans in the incident.
The ban from European competitions had a huge effect on the League in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 to play in European competitions.
The widespread hatred which existed in the late 80s and 90s for English clubs has now somewhat changed as club’s have come forward in support of the people who lost their lives in the disaster. Liverpool Football Club has played memorials in memory of the
fans and have been apologetic of the incident.
Liverpool’s current manager Kenny Dalglish, who played in that match for Liverpool, expressed his grief on the incident and wished that something of that sort had never been happened.
“I regret far more what happened at Heysel than not managing Liverpool in Europe. For so many to lose their lives at a football game was appalling and it was right somebody was punished. We just wish the ban had never happened because that would have meant
Heysel had never happened as well,” the manager concluded.
In 2010, the Heysel disaster marked its 25th anniversary. Liverpool unveiled a permanent plaque in memory of the Juventus fans who lost their lives. However, even 26 years after the incident, and the Juve triumph in the aftermath, memories of
that day are still a heart-shattering sight to any fan of the beautiful game.
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