Heysel remembered at Belgium-Italy friendly
Friday, November 13, 2015
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Italy and Belgium joined together at their friendly match at the Roi Baudouin Stadium in Brussels to remember the 39 spectators who lost their lives in the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985.
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The national associations, teams and fans of Italy and Belgium united at Friday's friendly at the Roi Baudouin Stadium in Brussels to remember the 39 victims of the Heysel Stadium disaster 30 years ago.
Before kick-off the two teams mixed and lined up together, and after 39 minutes the game was temporarily halted to pay tribute to the spectators who lost their lives at the European Champion Clubs' Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool on 29 May 1985. On the stadium video screen, the names of all those who died were shown one by one, accompanied by applause from players, staff and spectators.
On Thursday, the Italy squad and delegation had travelled to the stadium after their arrival in Brussels to take part in a ceremony attended, among others, by the presidents of the Italian and Belgian national associations, Carlo Tavecchio (FIGC) and François De Keersmaecker (URBSFA/KBVB). The ceremony took place in front of the memorial that commemorates those that lost their lives.
Flowers, a floral wreath and an Italian national team jersey with the number 39 were laid down at the memorial. The number 39 shirt has also now been symbolically retired from the Italian team.
