35 Years Ago Today: #Heysel...And the FA BAN

BBC On This Day

1985: Fans die in Heysel rioting
Thirty-nine Juventus football fans have died during rioting at the European Cup Final in Brussels.
The tragedy occured when a wall collapsed in the stadium and crushed Juventus fans as they tried to escape Liverpool supporters.

The two sets of supporters had spent the day drinking in the Belgian city and had arrived at the Heysel stadium waving flags and chanting.

But shortly before kick off the atmosphere turned violent and Liverpool supporters stampeded through a thin line of police towards the rival fans.

As the Juventus fans retreated a wall collapsed under the pressure and fans were crushed and trampled to death in the panic.

Police at the scene were unable to contain the violence and riot police were called in to calm the situation.

As the full extent of the tragedy unfolded the Red Cross moved in to treat the injured in tents set up at the scene. A priest was also called to give the Last Rites.

There were 58,000 fans in the ground and, as well as the dead, over 350 were injured.

Despite protests from both team managers the game went ahead with Juventus winning 1-0 thanks to a second half penalty.

Trouble had been reported since the two sets of fans arrived in the city. There were reports of stabbings and police numbers were dramaticaly increased to separate the fans.


n Context
Within days, and with the backing of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, English teams were banned from competing in Europe by the FA and then Uefa.
"We have to get the game cleaned up from this hooliganism at home and then perhaps we shall be able to go overseas again" Mrs Thatcher said.

All English teams were banned for five years apart from Liverpool who were banned for six.

Fourteen Liverpool fans were given three-year sentences - half the terms were suspended - after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter at a five-month trial in Belgium in 1989.

Violence in football grounds has been largely eliminated thanks to closed circuit TV, seating in stadiums, segregation of rival fans and the banning of alcohol.

news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/29/newsid_2733000/2733979.stm

I still dunno how/why game went ahead in the aftermath of such a tragedy?!
I vaguely recall that the subsequent ban on English club teams from European competition also affected Wimbledon FC.

28 Years ago today: FA Bans all English clubs from playing in Europe (The ban lasted until 1990) - I just can't imagine Man Ut & Man City and Chelsea today allowing such a ban/with such a big financial hit to them.

BBC ON THIS DAY

1985: English teams banned after Heysel

The Football Association has banned English clubs from playing in Europe following the Heysel stadium tragedy two days ago in which 39 fans died.

The Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, supported the ban which was announced by FA officials outside Number 10 Downing Street and called for tougher sentences on convicted football hooligans.

"We have to get the game cleaned up from this hooliganism at home and then perhaps we shall be able to go overseas again," she said.

Last Wednesday evening, 39 people died and more than 400 were injured when a wall collapsed at the stadium in Brussels during violent riots just before the European cup final between Liverpool and Juventus (Turin).


We have to get the game cleaned up from this hooliganism at home and then perhaps we shall be able to go overseas again

Margaret Thatcher
The match went ahead despite the tragedy and Juventus won 1-0.

The ban, decided after the return from Mexico of FA chairman Bert Millichip and secretary Ted Croker, will affect Everton, Manchester United, Liverpool, Norwich City, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. They are all due to compete in major contests next season.

"It is now up to English football to put its house in order," said Mr Croker outside Number 10.

Mr Millichip acknowledged the ban was a pre-emptive move and that Uefa (the Union of European Football Associations) would have imposed it anyway.

"It was very important that the FA took positive action and immediately," he said, saying it was the most difficult decision he had ever had to take.

The Labour leader of the Opposition, Neil Kinnock, said the ban of English teams would only benefit those who caused the "murderous riot" in Belgium.

The Football League which was not consulted is also opposed to the decision.

The Belgian government has already banned all British clubs from its territory until further notice.

Liverpool, whose fans were blamed for much of the violence, had decided to pull out of next season's Uefa cup competition before the FA announcement.


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victim on ground and rescue workers
Liverpool fans were blamed for the violence


In Context
The horrific scenes at the Heysel stadium unfurled shortly before the European Cup final when Liverpool fans charged towards Juventus supporters, causing a dividing wall to collapse and crushing fans to death. The final death toll was 39 - most of the victims were Italians.

The ban was lifted in 1990.

Violence in football grounds has been largely eliminated thanks to closed circuit TV, seating in stadiums, segregation of rival fans and the banning of alcohol.

More recently any violence has taken place outside the ground as happened during World Cup matches in France in 1998 when England fans went on the rampage in Marseille destroying shops.

England fans behaved well during at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan as well as Euro 2004 in Portugal.

news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/31/newsid_2481000/2481723.stm

Bump another year

30 Years ago