Latest news with #Heysel
RTÉ News
29-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Night Of Shame 1985
Delay in Brussels before The European Cup Final as crowd trouble turns the occasion into a tragedy. On 29 May 1985, defending champions Liverpool and Juventus were to play in the 30th European Cup final at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium. An hour before kick-off, a ferocious battle between opposing fans flared up. The Belgian police were unable to control the situation. A small minority of Liverpool supporters fired stones and flares at the Italian section of the stadium. As the Juventus fans tried to escape, they were crushed against a wall, which then collapsed. They ultimately found safety on the running track around the pitch. Some of the Juventus players go onto the pitch side track. Multimillion-pound players mingling with the crowd, attempting to console some of them, attempting to keep passions down somewhat. Meanwhile, the Liverpool supporters are eerily silent. Nobody expected that anything like this would happen, it's a total embarrassment for everyone. What was to be a big night for football has descended into, A night of shame, of violence, of mayhem, and of death. Tragically, 39 fans, mostly Juventus supporters, lost their lives, and hundreds more were injured. To avoid more trouble among fans, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) officials permitted the match to go ahead. Liverpool lost 1-0 to Juventus. Following Heysel, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and UEFA imposed a five-year ban on all English clubs from entering European competitions. Liverpool FC was banned indefinitely. This was later changed to seven years, and finally six. The European Cup Final was broadcast on 29 May 1985. The commentator is Ger Canning. MORE ARCHIVES DAILY
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
This small, insignificant memorial is a disgrace and an insult to the fans who lost their lives at Heysel, writes IAN HERBERT
The security guard at the entrance to what was once the Heysel Stadium refuses to let me through to the spot which commemorates the death of 39 football fans. It's after finding an open gate elsewhere I reach the memorial stone which is a disgrace and an insult to their memory. Blink and you'd miss the small, insignificant granite plaque affixed to one of the stadium's vast, red-brick exterior walls, where the names of those who were crushed to death here in the Heysel Disaster, 40 years ago on Thursday, are being weathered away. Roberto Lorentini, a young doctor, died trying to save a child's life. Andrea Casula, aged 11, died a few yards from the place where his father Giovanni's body was found. Northern Irishman Patrick Radcliffe, an archivist working for the European Economic Community in Brussels, died having simply wanted to experience a big event in the city. These and others were supposed to have been remembered in posterity at the place where they lost their lives. There was a ceremony to inaugurate the plaque and an adjacent commemorative 'light sculpture' 20 years ago. Turns out no one in Heysel could be bothered to notice that the paint used to list the victims is peeling off. This would not have surprised Roberto Lorentini's father, Otello. He, more than anyone, knew all about the rank incompetence and disgraceful buck-passing of the Belgian authorities and UEFA after the disaster of May 29, 1985. He worked tirelessly, amid his own grief, to hold them to account for what befell fans in Heysel's infamous Z Section, where he arrived with his son that night. The banners those Italian fans draped over the stadium crush barriers before all hell let loose bore messages such as Mamma sono qui! ('Mum, I'm here!'). They imagined their mothers being proud they had completed the 10-hour road trip north for the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool. Instead, their families back in Piedmont stood transfixed before TV sets, looking for a sign in the transmission that their loved ones were not caught up in the crush which claimed the lives of 32 Italians, four Belgians, two French and Northern Irishman Radcliffe. The German broadcaster ZDF terminated their transmission out of respect before the decision was taken — astonishing and abysmal in hindsight — that the final would still be played that very night: a 9.40pm kick-off, with the deaths so quickly put out of mind that the noise of the crowd could be heard from the little Brussels hospital where many of the bereaved had congregated. The tragedy was a very awkward truth for Liverpool FC for years and an indelible stain on the club's reputation. The fine new Heysel memorial at Anfield, which Liverpool announced last week, is welcome, though for many years the club struggled to take responsibility. Sir John Smith, then chairman, wrongly claimed two National Front members had been responsible, later telling a Merseyside Police investigator he was misquoted. A list of organisations who made payments to a fund for the grieving families, listed in Italian journalist Francesco Caremani's devastating book Heysel. The Truth, included the Merseyside local authority, Merseyside Police and the Walton police station in Liverpool. Not the football club. But in the eyes of Otello Lorentini and many others, the Belgian authorities were the despicable ones in the aftermath, treating grieving families in a way for which no word can do justice. They were the ones responsible for the bodies of fans allegedly being mixed up at a makeshift mortuary. Belgian bureaucrats claimed the Italians were to blame for rushing their mortuary teams. The families of some of the injured were charged hospital fees and transport fees to reach the dead, later reimbursed. There was a flagrant wish in Belgium to airbrush the disaster from history. Caremani relates the story of how Juventus fan Carla Gonnelli, rescued by an English supporter after her father had died in front of her, went to Brussels to meet the man who had saved her life, on the first anniversary of the tragedy. The Belgian authorities refused to allow the English press into the stadium to capture the meeting. 'They tried to leave it all behind,' Lorentini, who passed away in 2014, said of UEFA and the Belgian authorities, a year after the disaster. 'But we will not accept that this tragedy is ascribed to Liverpool fans only. Our rage stems from the fact there is a general lack of steps taken against the violence.' UEFA and their egregious then president Jacques Georges denied any responsibility, despite pocketing 83 per cent of total match revenues and making the catastrophic decision to stage the final in a crumbling, 55-year-old stadium which was condemned in the early 1980s for failing to meet modern safety standards. Safety was placed in the hands of the grossly incompetent Belgian authorities. Local police had supposedly flown to England to 'study hooliganism' in advance, yet even Liverpool fans were surprised by the availability of strong Belgian beer from 5pm that evening. It significantly impacted what was to follow. A group of 100 Liverpool fans were free to charge through the Z Section because the line of police officers positioned there was so thin. The batteries failed on their walkie-talkies. There was no communication with the stadium control centre. More than 20 officers had left the terrace to investigate the theft of a cash till from a hot-dog vendor. The official inquiry by a leading Belgian judge found the local police chief was 'always where he shouldn't have been'. When UEFA general secretary Hans Bangerter was fined and given a three-month suspended prison sentence, the governing body appealed the verdict in a fight to avoid liability, and lost. The Belgian football authorities challenged their own convictions in an attempt to avoid paying compensation. They also lost. It was Otello Lorentini and the organisation he founded, The Association for the Families of Heysel Victims, who brought these individuals to justice. The despicable treatment of the Italian families has, to this day, never been fully appreciated. 'The Belgians did not have a clue and their policing of the event was pathetic,' former La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Giancarlo Galavotti tells me. 'When the Liverpool mob surged the policemen ran down to pitch level, fearing for their own safety. I was in Rome's Stadio Olimpico for the Roma-Liverpool final the year before and something similar was about to happen just before kick-off. But the Italian Carabinieri military police in riot gear quickly ran up the dividing line forming a barrier and started to baton charge and push back the Liverpool mob, preventing their attack.' The blank looks my questions about the disaster elicited in the Heysel district last Friday evening demonstrated that the events of May 1985 do not form part of any collective memory in this place. 'Look around. You see this is a small, peaceful place. The game should never have been played here,' says 60-year-old Vincent Einhart, outside a shop called Market across the road from what became the King Baudouin Stadium, when the original Heysel was bulldozed and rebuilt. There is a bleak irony in finding an officious security officer barring my entry to a place where the pitiful lack of protection led to those 39 deaths, 40 years ago. I insist he must let me through. 'What if I had a tribute to lay at the plaque?' I ask him. 'Do you not know the significance? That it's been 40 years next week?' He makes a phone call, fiddles around in his little cabin and then re-emerges. 'No,' he says. 'This will require a written request. Not permitted. You cannot pass through.'
Time Business News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Time Business News
Liverpool in Mourning: Tragedy Strikes Title Parade Amidst Summer
Liverpool Football Club, a name synonymous with passionate support and a rich history of triumph, finds itself in a period of profound reflection and significant transition. While the euphoria of a Premier League title victory still resonates, a tragic incident during the team's celebratory parade has cast a deep shadow over the city, demanding a period of collective mourning and support. This somber event coincides with an already anticipated summer of significant change at Anfield, as new manager Arne Slot prepares to shape his squad and usher in a new era for the Reds. The joyous celebrations of Liverpool's Premier League title, a long-awaited moment for fans who endured the COVID-19 pandemic-induced muted celebrations of their last triumph, were tragically marred on Monday, May 26, 2025. As hundreds of thousands of supporters lined the streets of Liverpool, a car plowed into a crowd of fans near the end of the parade route, injuring 47 people, including four children. Four individuals, including one child, were reported to be in serious condition and remained hospitalized. The incident, which police swiftly confirmed was not being treated as an act of terrorism, sent shockwaves through the city and the wider football world. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with the vehicle swerving into the crowd, throwing people into the air, and continuing its path before being stopped. Emergency services responded rapidly, with firefighters lifting the vehicle to free trapped victims, who were then tended to by paramedics and first responders. Liverpool FC immediately released a statement expressing profound shock and offering thoughts and prayers to those affected. CEO Billy Hogan conveyed the club's heartfelt sympathy and thanked the emergency services for their swift and professional action. Former manager Jürgen Klopp, who had returned to the city for the title celebrations, also shared an emotional message, stating his shock and devastation, and echoing the club's iconic motto: 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' The immediate aftermath has seen the city rally together in solidarity, with police conducting an ongoing investigation and the focus firmly on supporting the injured and their families. The club has reportedly cancelled internal staff events as a mark of respect, demonstrating the deep impact this tragedy has had on the entire Liverpool community. This somber event has brought back painful memories of past stadium disasters, such as Heysel and Hillsborough, which have deeply shaped the club's identity and fostered a profound sense of unity and remembrance among its supporters. The 40th anniversary of the Heysel disaster, on Thursday, May 29, will be marked by the unveiling of a newly designed memorial at Anfield, a poignant reminder of the club's history of both triumph and tragedy. Beyond the immediate tragedy, Liverpool FC is also in the midst of a significant managerial transition. The highly anticipated arrival of Arne Slot as the new head coach marks the beginning of a new chapter following the departure of the beloved Jürgen Klopp. Slot, known for his attacking, possession-based style and high-speed transitions, has already begun to implement his vision, albeit from a distance during the initial post-season period. The focus now shifts to the upcoming summer transfer window, which promises to be 'massive' for the club, as emphasized by captain Virgil van Dijk. With the Premier League title secured, the objective is to build on this success and ensure the squad is well-equipped to defend its crown against formidable rivals like Manchester City and Arsenal. Transfer rumors are already swirling, indicating a proactive approach from the club. Reports suggest that Liverpool is preparing a substantial transfer budget, with potential high-profile signings on the horizon. Bayer Leverkusen fullback Jeremie Frimpong is reportedly close to a move, with a medical seemingly on the cards, while a deal for his club teammate, the highly-rated attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, is also said to be progressing. Liverpool has reportedly tabled its first official offer for Wirtz, exceeding £84 million, signaling their serious intent. Another key target appears to be Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, suggesting a focus on strengthening the full-back positions, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold hinting at a potential departure for Real Madrid. The managerial change also brings a fresh perspective on the existing squad. While key figures like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are expected to remain and lead the team, there's speculation about potential departures to free up funds and reshape the squad. Players like Darwin Nunez, Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, and Harvey Elliott have all been mentioned in transfer speculation. The likes of Cody Gakpo have even been linked with European giants like Bayern Munich, highlighting the quality within the current squad but also the potential for significant turnover. Slot's coaching staff, which includes tactical experts like Sipke Hulshoff and defensive specialist John Heitinga, will be crucial in integrating new players and implementing his tactical philosophy. The focus on modern training methods, player development, and injury prevention, spearheaded by their new physical performance and goalkeeping departments, aims to ensure the team remains robust and competitive throughout the demanding season. Liverpool FC faces a complex period, balancing the imperative of recovery and remembrance from a recent tragedy with the strategic demands of a significant summer transfer window and a new managerial era. The bond between the club and its supporters, forged through shared history, triumphs, and adversities, will be more important than ever. As the city heals and the club prepares for the next season, the 'You'll Never Walk Alone' anthem will undoubtedly resonate with renewed meaning, a powerful reminder of unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of Liverpool Football Club. The focus will be on supporting those affected by the parade incident, ensuring a smooth transition under Arne Slot, and strategically building a squad capable of competing for future honors, all while honoring the past and looking forward to a renewed future. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Liverpool FC, a soccer club with an identity woven in trophies and tragedies
The somber-looking home page of Liverpool FC on Tuesday reflected the mood of a club still in shock after a man plowed a car into a crowd of fans who were celebrating the team's latest Premier League title, injuring 47 people. Under a statement sending thoughts and prayers to those affected were references to two deadly stadium disasters involving Liverpool fans in the 1980s that had a profound impact on the club and its identity. Below that was a digital visualization of all the trophies won by Liverpool FC in its 133-year history that make it one of the most decorated men's teams in world soccer. It was a moving reminder that with all the silverware and success has come pain and tragedy for a club synonymous with the anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' Here is a closer look at those two stadium disasters referenced by the club: Heysel In May 29, 1985, Liverpool played Italian team Juventus in the European Cup final at Heysel Stadium in Brussels. Crowd disorder before kickoff culminated in a surge by Liverpool fans into an adjacent stand containing mostly Juventus supporters. In the ensuing chaos, some were trampled or suffocated to death as they tried to flee the violence and others died when a retaining wall collapsed. A total of 39 people — 32 from Italy, four from Belgium, two from France and one from Northern Ireland — died and around 600 were injured. Liverpool fans were largely blamed for the violence. Twenty-six of them were arrested and charged with manslaughter, 14 of whom were found guilty and given 3-year prison sentences. Many also attributed the disorder to the dilapidated condition of Heysel, a 55,000-capacity structure with outdated standing-room only stands, flimsy fences and crumbling walls inside and outside the stadium, as well as poor organization from police and UEFA, European soccer's governing body. The 40th anniversary of the disaster is on Thursday, with Liverpool set to unveil a newly designed memorial at Anfield to mark the occasion. Liverpool's home page on Tuesday showed the emblems of Juventus and Liverpool above the date of the match and the Italian words 'in memoria e amicizia' ("in memory and friendship" in English). Hillsborough Four years later, Liverpool was involved in another stadium tragedy — this time on English soil — that led to the death of 97 of the club's fans. The crush at the FA Cup semifinal match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough in Sheffield on April 15, 1989, is Britain's worst sports disaster. The catastrophe unfolded when more than 2,000 Liverpool fans were allowed to flood into a standing-room section behind a goal with the stadium already nearly full for the match. The victims were smashed against metal anti-riot fences or trampled underfoot, and many suffocated. A police officer ran onto the field and asked the referee to halt the game, which was abandoned after six minutes. Fans and rescue workers ripped up advertising boards and used them as makeshift stretchers as police and first-aid workers treated victims on the field. With hooliganism rife in English soccer throughout the 1980s and the events of Heysel still fresh in the memory, there were immediate attempts to assign blame on the Liverpool fans and defend policing at the match. A false narrative that blamed drunken, ticketless and rowdy Liverpool fans was created by police. It took decades of campaigning for Liverpool supporters to prove there was a cover-up by authorities. In 2016, a jury found that police and emergency services were to blame for the Hillsborough disaster and exonerated the behavior of Liverpool fans, saying the victims were 'unlawfully killed.' The reference to Hillsborough on Liverpool's website displayed the number '97' with the date of the match and the words 'Never Forgotten.' ___
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Liverpool FC, a soccer club with an identity woven in trophies and tragedies
The somber-looking home page of Liverpool FC on Tuesday reflected the mood of a club still in shock after a man plowed a car into a crowd of fans who were celebrating the team's latest Premier League title, injuring 47 people. Under a statement sending thoughts and prayers to those affected were references to two deadly stadium disasters involving Liverpool fans in the 1980s that had a profound impact on the club and its identity. Below that was a digital visualization of all the trophies won by Liverpool FC in its 133-year history that make it one of the most decorated men's teams in world soccer. It was a moving reminder that with all the silverware and success has come pain and tragedy for a club synonymous with the anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' Here is a closer look at those two stadium disasters referenced by the club: Heysel In May 29, 1985, Liverpool played Italian team Juventus in the European Cup final at Heysel Stadium in Brussels. Crowd disorder before kickoff culminated in a surge by Liverpool fans into an adjacent stand containing mostly Juventus supporters. In the ensuing chaos, some were trampled or suffocated to death as they tried to flee the violence and others died when a retaining wall collapsed. A total of 39 people — 32 from Italy, four from Belgium, two from France and one from Northern Ireland — died and around 600 were injured. Liverpool fans were largely blamed for the violence. Twenty-six of them were arrested and charged with manslaughter, 14 of whom were found guilty and given 3-year prison sentences. Many also attributed the disorder to the dilapidated condition of Heysel, a 55,000-capacity structure with outdated standing-room only stands, flimsy fences and crumbling walls inside and outside the stadium, as well as poor organization from police and UEFA, European soccer's governing body. The 40th anniversary of the disaster is on Thursday, with Liverpool set to unveil a newly designed memorial at Anfield to mark the occasion. Liverpool's home page on Tuesday showed the emblems of Juventus and Liverpool above the date of the match and the Italian words 'in memoria e amicizia' ('in memory and friendship' in English). Hillsborough Four years later, Liverpool was involved in another stadium tragedy — this time on English soil — that led to the death of 97 of the club's fans. The crush at the FA Cup semifinal match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough in Sheffield on April 15, 1989, is Britain's worst sports disaster. The catastrophe unfolded when more than 2,000 Liverpool fans were allowed to flood into a standing-room section behind a goal with the stadium already nearly full for the match. The victims were smashed against metal anti-riot fences or trampled underfoot, and many suffocated. A police officer ran onto the field and asked the referee to halt the game, which was abandoned after six minutes. Fans and rescue workers ripped up advertising boards and used them as makeshift stretchers as police and first-aid workers treated victims on the field. With hooliganism rife in English soccer throughout the 1980s and the events of Heysel still fresh in the memory, there were immediate attempts to assign blame on the Liverpool fans and defend policing at the match. A false narrative that blamed drunken, ticketless and rowdy Liverpool fans was created by police. It took decades of campaigning for Liverpool supporters to prove there was a cover-up by authorities. In 2016, a jury found that police and emergency services were to blame for the Hillsborough disaster and exonerated the behavior of Liverpool fans, saying the victims were 'unlawfully killed.' The reference to Hillsborough on Liverpool's website displayed the number '97' with the date of the match and the words 'Never Forgotten.' ___ AP soccer:
