Hillsborough 20 years on

[Ron Manager]

I was 15 when this happened. By then I'd already been on a terrace and moved 20 feet across it without my feet touching the ground...just being moved around in the crush. Now that was just watching a 4th Division team, heaven knows what it would have been like at a big ground in something like an FA Cup semi final.

If I'd have been born in Liverpool that could well have been me on the Leppings Lane End. I wouldn't have gone on to enjoy the great life I've had - got married , had two wonderful children, had the opportunity to live in Australia. All those things would have been denied me just as they were the 96 who died 20 years ago.

So may they never be forgotten and one day may their families get justice.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Well said.

 

[TrueBlue]

Still don't matter when the wall came down

 

[SupaBlues]

Today should be a day when all footballing differences are put to one side and everybody should unite in memory of this awful tragedy which could have and maybe has affected anybody who posts on here

 

[Richard T]

As some one that tried very hard to get a ticket for Hillsborough on that fateful day twenty year's ago I am aware that I could have died in that awful way.

I have chosen on this day not to make the obvious flippant comment after reading the post by TBTV.
But having been at that match I aware of a lot of circumstances that made that tragedy occur.

Justice for the 96

RIP

 

[TrueBlue]

As some one that tried very hard to get a ticket for Hillsborough on that fateful day twenty year's ago I am aware that I could have died in that awful way.

I have chosen on this day not to make the obvious flippant comment after reading the post by TBTV.
But having been at that match I aware of a lot of circumstances that made that tragedy occur.

Justice for the 96

RIP

I am all for marking this terrible tragedy and my name is not TBTV by the way.

What does annoy me is the fact that yes hillsborough was bad but why do we not mark what happnend in Heysel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Heysel Stadium disaster)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Heysel Stadium Disaster (often simplified to Heysel or the Heysel Disaster) refers to the deaths of 39 (and injury of some 600 more) people, mostly fans of Juventus F.C., before the 1985 European Cup Final held in the Heysel Stadium, Brussels. The disaster is one of the most high profile and one of the worst cases of football hooliganism in European and world football. It was the first of two stadium related disasters of which Liverpool was a part; the other was the Hillsborough Disaster.

Approximately an hour before the scheduled kick-off time a group of supporters of English Liverpool F.C. breached a fence separating them from rival supporters of Juventus F.C. and charged at and attacked the Italian supporters. Juventus fans were forced to retreat, putting pressure on a dilapidated retaining wall, which collapsed away from them. The crush of fans against the wall and its collapse led to many deaths and hundreds of injuries. The game was played despite the disaster in order to prevent further violence.

The tragedy resulted in all English football clubs being placed under an indefinite ban by UEFA from all European competitions (lifted in 1990-91), with Liverpool F.C. being excluded for an additional year and a number of Liverpool fans prosecuted for manslaughter. The disaster has been called "the darkest hour in the history of the UEFA competitions."[1]

 

[TrueBlue]

Justice for 96 and the 39!

RIP

 

[manor15]

I am all for marking this terrible tragedy and my name is not TBTV by the way.

What does annoy me is the fact that yes hillsborough was bad but why do we not mark what happnend in Heysel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Heysel Stadium disaster)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Heysel Stadium Disaster (often simplified to Heysel or the Heysel Disaster) refers to the deaths of 39 (and injury of some 600 more) people, mostly fans of Juventus F.C., before the 1985 European Cup Final held in the Heysel Stadium, Brussels. The disaster is one of the most high profile and one of the worst cases of football hooliganism in European and world football. It was the first of two stadium related disasters of which Liverpool was a part; the other was the Hillsborough Disaster.

Approximately an hour before the scheduled kick-off time a group of supporters of English Liverpool F.C. breached a fence separating them from rival supporters of Juventus F.C. and charged at and attacked the Italian supporters. Juventus fans were forced to retreat, putting pressure on a dilapidated retaining wall, which collapsed away from them. The crush of fans against the wall and its collapse led to many deaths and hundreds of injuries. The game was played despite the disaster in order to prevent further violence.

The tragedy resulted in all English football clubs being placed under an indefinite ban by UEFA from all European competitions (lifted in 1990-91), with Liverpool F.C. being excluded for an additional year and a number of Liverpool fans prosecuted for manslaughter. The disaster has been called "the darkest hour in the history of the UEFA competitions."[1]

Very good point. I agree that Heysel should be remembered more here but I am sure Heysel is treated as seriously as Hillsborough in Italy as it mainly affected Juventus fans, I doubt Italians remember Hillsborough. However I think it is wrong that Heysel is pretty much forgotten about.
I also seem to remember that at a Liverpool vs Juventus Champions League game a few years ago there was a big effort from the Liverpool fans who had a giant flag saying Sorry in Italian and special chants were made to remember Heysel and about 75-80% of the Juventus fans responded by literally sticking their middle fingers up.

 

[Pubey]

I am all for marking this terrible tragedy and my name is not TBTV by the way.

What does annoy me is the fact that yes hillsborough was bad but why do we not mark what happnend in Heysel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Heysel Stadium disaster)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Heysel Stadium Disaster (often simplified to Heysel or the Heysel Disaster) refers to the deaths of 39 (and injury of some 600 more) people, mostly fans of Juventus F.C., before the 1985 European Cup Final held in the Heysel Stadium, Brussels. The disaster is one of the most high profile and one of the worst cases of football hooliganism in European and world football. It was the first of two stadium related disasters of which Liverpool was a part; the other was the Hillsborough Disaster.

Approximately an hour before the scheduled kick-off time a group of supporters of English Liverpool F.C. breached a fence separating them from rival supporters of Juventus F.C. and charged at and attacked the Italian supporters. Juventus fans were forced to retreat, putting pressure on a dilapidated retaining wall, which collapsed away from them. The crush of fans against the wall and its collapse led to many deaths and hundreds of injuries. The game was played despite the disaster in order to prevent further violence.

The tragedy resulted in all English football clubs being placed under an indefinite ban by UEFA from all European competitions (lifted in 1990-91), with Liverpool F.C. being excluded for an additional year and a number of Liverpool fans prosecuted for manslaughter. The disaster has been called "the darkest hour in the history of the UEFA competitions."[1]

Hillsborough is often in the press and news for two reasons...
1. 96 football fans died
2. it completely changed football and football policing.

It is still in the news (and rightly so, 20 years on) mainly due to the work of LFC and the Justice Campaigns. However Heysel was the fault of Liverpool hooligans, and so it's not something that LFC or Liverpool supporters will want to continually bring up.

These events were before my time, but I'm sure Liverpool weren't the only fans with thug/hooligan elements and an incident like Heysel could have happened between any two clubs with hooligan fans. As with Hillsborough there were faults with the stadium, but in this case innocent children and neutral fans died wholy due to the actions of mainly Liverpool fans, although Juventus don't seem blameless either. Heysel should always be remembered too, but just don't expect LFC or Liverpool supporters to do it as publically as they do for Hillsborough

 

[manor15]

Good to see that Anfield is half full for the service

 

[Reg Martin]

I am all for marking this terrible tragedy and my name is not TBTV by the way.
What does annoy me is the fact that yes hillsborough was bad but why do we not mark what happnend in Heysel

a very good point and also before hillsborough happened liverpool fans had taunted manu fans for years about munich aircrash - wonder how liverpool fans would react to taunts about hillsborough from another club's fans?
there also doesn't seem to be the same focus on the bradford fire disaster in 1985 either - I am going to self-censor my views as to why this is.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Hillsborough is often in the press and news for two reasons...
1. 96 football fans died
2. it completely changed football and football policing.

It is still in the news (and rightly so, 20 years on) mainly due to the work of LFC and the Justice Campaigns. However Heysel was the fault of Liverpool hooligans, and so it's not something that LFC or Liverpool supporters will want to continually bring up.

These events were before my time, but I'm sure Liverpool weren't the only fans with thug/hooligan elements and an incident like Heysel could have happened between any two clubs with hooligan fans. As with Hillsborough there were faults with the stadium, but in this case innocent children and neutral fans died wholy due to the actions of mainly Liverpool fans, although Juventus don't seem blameless either. Heysel should always be remembered too, but just don't expect LFC or Liverpool supporters to do it as publically as they do for Hillsborough

I'd say Policing and Idiotic UEFA Policy are equally to blame for Heysel...

UEFA were warned about the state of the stadium almost a year before the final took place, after Arsenal visited the stadium and lobbied for it to be removed from the European circuit.

What do UEFA do? Continue with the final in the same location, and even worse they come up with the magical idea of placing a Neutral block for Belgium residents next to 2 blocks of Liverpool fans, completely ignoring the fact that Belgium, particularly the area surrounding the stadium, largely comprised of ExPat Italians.

The segregation between the two? Chicken wire fencing.

 

[canveyshrimper]

I'd say Policing and Idiotic UEFA Policy are equally to blame for Heysel...

UEFA were warned about the state of the stadium almost a year before the final took place, after Arsenal visited the stadium and lobbied for it to be removed from the European circuit.

What do UEFA do? Continue with the final in the same location, and even worse they come up with the magical idea of placing a Neutral block for Belgium residents next to 2 blocks of Liverpool fans, completely ignoring the fact that Belgium, particularly the area surrounding the stadium, largely comprised of ExPat Italians.

The segregation between the two? Chicken wire fencing.

You have a point about UEFA & the police, however it was Liverpool fans that made an unprovoked charge on the Juventus fans.

While I agree that Heysel had been sub standard and increasingly decrepit there was no need for the Liverpool fans to act in the manner they did.

That said Bradford, Heysel & Hillsborough remain in my memory, and I can only hope & pray that I'll never see such incidents again.

 

[EastStandBlue]

You have a point about UEFA & the police, however it was Liverpool fans that made an unprovoked charge on the Juventus fans.

While I agree that Heysel had been sub standard and increasingly decrepit there was no need for the Liverpool fans to act in the manner they did.

That said Bradford, Heysel & Hillsborough remain in my memory, and I can only hope & pray that I'll never see such incidents again.

Whilst Liverpool fans were definitely in the wrong for instigating the charge, I wouldn't go as far as saying it was unprovoked. Both sets of fans exchanged missiles for well over 30 minutes before the charge.

The fact remains that, had UEFA listened to concerns bought by BOTH teams about a section for neutral fans, Heysel probably wouldn't have happened.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Very good point. I agree that Heysel should be remembered more here but I am sure Heysel is treated as seriously as Hillsborough in Italy as it mainly affected Juventus fans, I doubt Italians remember Hillsborough. However I think it is wrong that Heysel is pretty much forgotten about.
I also seem to remember that at a Liverpool vs Juventus Champions League game a few years ago there was a big effort from the Liverpool fans who had a giant flag saying Sorry in Italian and special chants were made to remember Heysel and about 75-80% of the Juventus fans responded by literally sticking their middle fingers up.

They turned their backs to the pitch if memory serves.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Whilst Liverpool fans were definitely in the wrong for instigating the charge, I wouldn't go as far as saying it was unprovoked. Both sets of fans exchanged missiles for well over 30 minutes before the charge.

The fact remains that, had UEFA listened to concerns bought by BOTH teams about a section for neutral fans, Heysel probably wouldn't have happened.

Heysel was an accident waiting to happen, I was on business in Brussels and was taken to a match there the year before the Liverpool / Juventus final, and it would have was comparable to a lower league ground here at the time.

Irrespective of the fans exchanging missiles and however you dress it up Liverpool fans had no right to attack the Juventus supporters.

 

[Richard T]

Whilst not wanting to drag this thread on too long I feel compelled to make the following observations regarding the two tragedy's.

The common dominator is that there were both football tragedy's involving top club's of the time(yes) Liverpool on two occasions both
grounds chosen were inadequate for purpose and then this was compounded by what at the very best can only be described as poor crowd control

Before both game's Liverpool football club made there concerns none to the football authorities regarding the chosen stadiums.
Liverpool had ironical played Nottingham Forrest the previous year at Hillsborough and although having a larger fan base been given the smaller Lepping's Lane
end result in some overcrowding problems and minor injuries but the authorities chose to ignore these concerns on both occasions.

It can be argued that the Heysel Stadium Tragedy really began the year before. Liverpool had reached the European Cup Final for the fourth time in their history.
Roma were confident of victory especially as it was at there home ground..Liverpool won in a penalty shoot-out. The next day, the English press carried page after page of pictures of the winning side, and dozens of pictures of delirious Liverpool fan's dancing in the Trevi fountain. What received rather less coverage was the roaming scooter gangs hunting down Liverpool supporters, stabbing and slashing dozens, many of whom were family groups returning to hotels in the area. One 13-year-old boy was almost ripped apart, needing 200 stitches in his face alone. Many hoteliers refused to let their English guests in, either out of spite or for fear of subsequent attacks on their premises. There was little protection from the Police, who routinely attacked and robbed English supporters in revenge for the defeat of the local team.
Before the match, stewards and gate attendants had taken hundreds of watches, cameras and items of jewellery from visiting supporters. That night, many desperate English fans, deserted by Italian coach drivers booked to drive them to Rome airport, sought sanctuary at the British Embassy.

So when they reached the final again in 1985 it was unfortunate that there opponents where another Italian side in Juventus who also had a huge fan base that included some very unsavoury character's.
I like a number of other's made the trip to Brussels's without a ticket which in some way's was not a good idea but I was desperate to see the match having not travelled to Rome the year before and managed to buy a ticket on the black-market for about £40 in the city centre in the afternoon So was not best pleased to arrive and the stadium to see it was possible to enter the ground by simply lifting a section of the flimsy fencing that surrounded the terraces

Built in the 1920s, the Heysel Stadium was quite simply the worst venue in the world to host such a volatile encounter. The game was due to be the last match ever played at the ground, as it had been condemned many years previously for failing to meet modern standards of safety and design. As a result, little money had been spent upon it, and large parts of the stadium were crumbling.
It should be understood that not just Liverpool hooligans were present. There were contingents from a great many firms all over the country, from Luton MIGS to Millwall Bushwackers, West Ham ICF and Newcastle Toon Army. Some Juventus fan's also came to the game keen to cause trouble and having them throw missile's in to the Liverpool section and burn flag's form there neighbouring neutral section in front of a then minimal police presence was the catalyst that caused that fateful charge across the terrace's.

After a 5-month trial in Belgium, fourteen Liverpool fans were given 3-year sentences for involuntary manslaughter with half the terms were suspended..
The head of the Belgian FA was also given a six month jail sentence for his part in the organizing the use of this stadium for the match

So whilst in NO WAY wishing to minimise the tragedy of Heysell there has in some small way been punishment's handed out to those involved and whilst understandably in some people's eye's in may not be justice it has not been a complete cover up.

The tragedy at Hillsborough is different in that respect with the police officer in charge on the day initially saying that gate was broken by drunken fans causing the crush leading to lie's in the Sun newspaper's headline's.
He latter omitted he ordered them to be opened which is one of a number of lie's and cover up's including the police surveillance film of the day being wiped before the enquiry.

So I can only repeat my comment of yesterday.

Justice for the 96

 

[Reg Martin]

I can fully understand people in Liverpool wishing to mark the anniversary and from what I've read it does sound like some senior police officers may have a lot to answer for and so far have not been brought to account.
What I personally struggle with is the extent to which the media cover this event rather than others, eg remembering Ibrox 1971 and Bradford 1985 victims. It does feel to me as though there is some kind of emotional blackmail being applied that insists that the country as a whole joins in with this particular anniversary. Maybe there is a case for the whole country joining in but why this event and not others?

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Maybe there is a case for the whole country joining in but why this event and not others?

I think it's because it was a seminal moment in Football history in this country. They way supporters behave and were treated changed for the better after that fateful day, it's just a shame it took the death of 96 innocent souls to happen.

RIP the 96

 

[MK Shrimper]

Just seen the reserve Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje has probably messed up any chance of playing for 'pool by larking around at the ceremony last Wednesday. Benitez has told him not to turn up for training.

Idiot.