The word ‘Forever Bound’ means a bond that transcends time, distance and memories, beyond death. When the memorial named ‘Forever Bound’ is unveiled today at the home ground of English football club Liverpool, the fans will once again remember that bloody incident that took place 4 decades ago in football history. Today marks 40 years since the tragedy that occurred at the Heysel Stadium in Belgium during the European Club Football Final between Liverpool and Italian club Juventus in 1985. More than 600 people were injured in the tragedy that killed 39 people. The design of the new memorial being prepared at Liverpool’s home ground Anfield today is that of two scarves tied together as a symbol of the grief and unity shared by the Liverpool-Juventus clubs.
∙ What happened that day
May 29, 1985; The final of the European Cup, the old form of the Champions League, is being held at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium. The match will be between English football league winners Liverpool and Italian football league winners Juventus. A year earlier, Italian club Roma had lost to Liverpool in another European final held in Rome.
After the match, Liverpool fans, including the police in Rome, were attacked. Liverpool fans, who were waiting to take revenge, turned the Heysel final into a venue for this.
Before the match started, arguments and challenges had begun between fans. The crowd began attacking each other with bottles and sticks. A wall in the gallery collapsed. In the midst of the stampede and rush, 39 people died. 32 of them were Italians. The match continued after the tragedy, shocking everyone. Juventus won 1–0.
