Thirty-nine fans died – and 600 more injured – when violence broke out
between rival fans ahead of the European Cup final between Liverpool and
Juventus, report the Liverpool Echo.
The
club today confirmed that members of the squad who were in Brussels
that night will attend a small service at the Heysel memorial at Anfield
tomorrow morning Club chaplain Rev Bill Bygroves will lead the
ceremony, with Phil Neal, who was club captain at Heysel, laying a
wreath.
Representatives from the Premier League, Football
Association and UEFA will also be in attendance, alongside ambassadors
from Juventus.
All flags at Anfield will be at half-mast. Council chiefs say the same will happen across at Liverpool civic buildings.
Meanwhile, club ambassador Ian Rush, who played for both the Reds and Juventus, will be in attendance at a Mass in Turin on behalf of the club.
A
spokesman for the Italian club said: “Juventus Football Club has, over
the course of the last few months, been engaged in a heartfelt and
sincere dialogue with the Association for the Families of Heysel
Victims, with the aim of commemorating the 39 fans who died in a
football stadium almost 30 years ago.
Bandar Bola - May 29, 1985 should have
been a day of joy and passion for football. Instead it became a tragedy
caused by unprecedented violence that must never be allowed to happen
again.
“In respect of the Association’s wishes, Juventus can
announce that a holy Mass will be held at Turin’s Chiesa della Gran
Madre di Dio church. The day will be dedicated to all employees of
Juventus, remembering the victims.
“For too many years these 39
victims have been subject to scorn with the sole aim of attacking the
black and white colours. This is a vile action that has no place in any
stadium or sporting debate.
“This anniversary should also serve as a period of reflection, ensuring that such behaviour is not repeated.”
Trouble flared at the ageing, crumbling Heysel stadium between rival fans at about 7pm, an hour before kick off.
Later,
Liverpool supporters at one end of the ground stormed an adjacent,
supposedly neutral zone. The Italian fans in there retreated into a
corner, causing a wall to collapse.
In the ensuing stampede, Italian fans were trampled and crushed.
The match was eventually played, the Turin club winning 1-0 and lifting the European Cup.
Fourteen Liverpool fans were convicted of violent acts that led to the deaths of Juventus supporters.
Captain
Johan Mahieu, the policeman in charge of security, and Albert Roosens,
secretary of the Belgian Football Union, were convicted of criminal
negligence.
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