A friendly between Belgium and Italy is to be halted in the 39th minute as the names of the 39 victims of the Heysel Stadium disaster are read out one by one on Friday.
Belgium, currently No. 1 in the FIFA rankings, host four-time FIFA World Cup champions Italy at the King Beaudoin Stadium in Brussels.
It is to count as preparation for next summer’s European Championships, but the match is also an occasion for both sides to commemorate one of soccer’s worst stadium disasters in the year of its 30th anniversary.
Photo: AP
On May 29, 1985, 39 fans — mostly Italian — died during the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool after running battles between groups of supporters caused panic and led to fans being crushed against a collapsing wall.
Juventus won the match 1-0 thanks to a penalty scored by Michel Platini, but the Turin club’s victory has long been overshadowed by the controversy of players celebrating in the middle of the pitch only hours after the tragedy.
Liverpool’s supporters were apportioned much of the blame, although police chiefs and local authorities were also found guilty following an inquiry after the disaster, which also led to a five-year ban for English clubs in European competition.
Juventus last season were at the forefront of commemorations for victims of the disaster, days prior to facing Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final in Berlin. Fans unfurled banners at Juventus Stadium emblazoned with the number 39, with several other banners calling for supporters to never forget the victims.
This week, a number of initiatives are to be held.
Upon their arrival on Thursday, the Italy squad, Italian Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio, representatives from Juventus and members of an association representing families of the victims are to leave bouquets of flowers at the “Z” section of the stadium, which played host to the drama.
While there, Italy are to “retire” the No. 39 shirt — meaning the No. 39 can no longer be chosen by any player in the national team.
On the day of the match itself, the commemorations are to continue before and also during the game. A first message is to be read by stadium announcers prior to kickoff, and the game is to then be halted in the 39th minute as players from both teams meet to pay homage as the names of the 39 victims are read out one by one.
Italy are in rebuilding mode following their second successive first-round exit from the FIFA World Cup at last summer’s showpiece in Brazil while under the helm of Cesare Prandelli.
Current coach Antonio Conte, who played for Juventus from 1991 to 2004 and went on to lead the Bianconeri to three successive league titles from 2012 to 2014, steered Italy to the Euro 2016 finals with two games to spare.
Italy are to play a second friendly when they host Romania in Bologna on Tuesday.
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