Heysel

The 29th May 1985 is a day that many Liverpool fans will never forget and is one of two dreadful events that will long be associated with the club, for very different reasons. The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred in Brussels, Belgium, as a result of rioting before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus. The unforgettable event, which earmarked the start of a five year blanket ban on all English clubs in European football, led to the deaths of 39 Juventus fans and 600 injuries as trouble got out of control.

About an hour before kick-off, some fans that had been drinking, were seen and heard to be chanting, letting off fireworks and waving flags, before police stepped in to calm the situation. However, the thin line of officers on duty that night were said to be unable to prevent a segment of Liverpool fans from stampeding towards rival fans which in turn meant the retaining wall that separated the Liverpool supporters from Juventus fans, collapsed under the pressure. This resulted in many panicking Juventus fans being crushed and trampled on as they tried to escape.

Because of the enormity of the situation and the deaths that could have been avoided, UEFA reacted furiously and swiftly banned all English clubs indefinitely from participating in any of the three European competitions in the wake of the tragedy. Despite this however, the ban was lifted after five years for English clubs, with Liverpool being excluded for a further year and a handful of Liverpool fans prosecuted for manslaughter. Since the disaster however, the Heysel stadium has changed beyond recognition and is now the all-seater Stade Roi Baudouin, which has replaced the old ground which was demolished soon after the disaster.