Juventus Soccer Fans Warn of Heysel Disaster 'Revenge' on Liverpool
By Nick Allen, PA Chief Reporter
Juventus fans warned today that small groups of hardcore hooligans will seek revenge for the Heysel Stadium disaster when their team meets Liverpool 20 years on.
Today’s Champions League draw pitted the two clubs against each other two decades after fans of the Italian club were crushed to death under a collapsing wall before the European Cup final.
A total of 39 people died and English clubs were subsequently thrown out of European competition for five years.
Since then, the two clubs have maintained close contact and built bridges and the vast majority of Juventus fans are hoping for a peaceful game.
But within hours of the draw being announced there were warnings that some so-called “ultras” – hardline followers of Juventus – had made clear they have not forgotten Heysel and are not prepared to forgive.
Menacing postings on Italian football websites included one which read: “Now it is Liverpool’s turn to be shot.”
Another said it would be “sick” to lose to the English club.
One Juventus supporter posted a picture of masked Italian hooligans, including a young man wielding a metal pipe, and wrote: “The boy with the pipe is one of the leading supporters (of Juventus) nowadays.
“Don’t expect him to shake hands with ’Pool fans. Violence will occur, I’m sure of it.”
Referring to the picture another Juventus supporter said: “I’m proud of him.”
Another said: “Yes, the clubs have a reasonable relationship now, but the fact is that many fans in Italy do blame Liverpool still and if you go stand in the Curva Sud at the Delle Alpi and ask for thoughts on Liverpool you will be greeted with disgust.
“The feelings are still strong, rightly or wrongly, that’s the way it is.”
Another Juventus fan wrote: “There will be thousands of them (Liverpool fans) in Turin. I’m really scared. If something bad happens we can easily be banned from Europe.”
Liverpool officials said the meeting would be emotional but stressed the hard work that had been done to mend fences with Juventus fans.
Former assistant coach Phil Thompson said: “Both clubs are very, very close and have worked exceptionally hard to help each other overcome what happened.”
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said: “There is quite a deep friendship between the clubs and, I think, between the two sets of fans.
“It’s of course 20 years since Heysel so we’ve already mentioned that and it’s something we have given thought to. I’m confident we’ll get it right. It’s something we’ll think about carefully.”
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