The Tragedy of Heysel

Lore & Background

The tragedy resulted in all English football clubs being placed under an indefinite ban by UEFA from all European competitions (lifted in 1990, with English clubs returning to European competition in the 1990–91 season), with Liverpool being excluded for an additional three years beyond the English ban, later reduced to one year on appeal. 14 Liverpool fans were initially charged with manslaughter, but only 3 were convicted of manslaughter and none served the full six-year sentence. Belgian authorities were also blamed, including police captain Johan Mahieu, who had been in charge of security; he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter (homicide involontaire) and received a suspended sentence and fine, not imprisonment.

Reader's Guide

The disaster was later described as 'the darkest hour in the history of the UEFA competitions'. The game was played despite the pre-match incidents by authorities and organisers' joint decision for public policy doctrine reasons after a state of siege was declared in the city, with Juventus winning 1–0.

Did You Know?

• The wall that collapsed was a poorly maintained concrete and brick structure, though specific inspection failures are not part of the established historical record.
• Approximately an hour before kickoff, incidents of aggression between the two sets of supporters took place across a flimsy divide between the Liverpool section and the neutral section.
• The stadium was 55 years old and had not been sufficiently maintained for several years.