Mengapa hari ini saya posting begitu? Karena ada sebuah tradegi yang menyebabkan sepak bola Inggris ke masa yang suram. Yaitu, Tradegi Heysel (29 Mei 1985). Tradegi ini disebabkan oleh hooligans Loserfool FC (Liverpool FC) yang mengejek fans Juventus di Piala Champions (sebelum Liga Champions). Karena Tradegi itu, klub sepakbola Inggris dilarang bermain di ajang internasional selama 5 tahun.

Mengapa Terjadi Tradegi Heysel?

Kejadian ini dimulai ketika fans kedua tim saling mengejek dan melecehkan. Lalu, sekitar satu jam setelah kick-off, hooligans Liverpool menerobos pembatas agar masuk ke wilayah tifosi Juventus. Tak ada perlawanan karena kelompok suporter yang ada di situ bukanlah kelompok Ultras. Tifosi Juve berusaha menjauh namun tiba-tiba tembok pembatas di sektor tersebut roboh karena tidak bisa menahan beban orang-orang yang mencba merangsek dan melompati pagar. Akibatnya, 39 orang meninggal dan 600+ orang luka-luka.

Akibatnya Bagi Persepakbolaan Inggris

31 Mei 1985, PM Inggris saat itu Margareth Thatcher mendesak FA agar dituntut larangan bermain di Eropa bagi seluruh klub Inggris. Dua hari kemudian, UEFA secara resmi melarang klub-klub Inggris bermain di seluruh Eropa sampai “waktu yang belum ditentukan”. Pada 6 Juni, hukuman itu berubah menjadi larangan bermain di seluruh dunia. Namun seminggu kemudian pertandingan persahabatan diperbolehkan. Sanksi ini tidak berlaku bagi Timnas Inggris.

Putusan terakhir adalah mengucilkan klub-klub Inggris dari peta persepakbolaan dunia selama 5 tahun. Khusus bagi Liverpool ditambah 3 tahun meskipun akhirnya diberi keringanan 1 tahun.

Hukuman itu sebenarnya memperingatkan bahwa kekerasan dalam sepakbola tidak boleh terjadi lagi. Saat itu pula ada istilah yang disebut dengan ‘hooliganinsme’. Sebenarnya, sebelum Tradegi Heysel ada juga kejadian kekerasan dalam sepakbola sebelumnya yaitu :

• Final Piala Champions 1975. Fans Leeds United menyerang fans Bayern Muenchen. Masyarakat sepak bola mengutuk tindakan itu tapi UEFA masih memberikan keringanan.
• Final Champions Cup. Fans Loserfool bentrok dengan tifosi AS Roma. Namun keributan ini tidak sampai mendapat begitu banyak perhatian.

Heysel Disaster’s Gallery

Dan ini adalah video yang mengambarkan Tradegi Heysel

MASIH BANGGA MENJADI LOSERPOODILLAN?

]]> http://xavierlion.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/50bef1935/ Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:10:58 +0000 xavierlion http://xavierlion.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/50bef1935/

Si l’exposition universelle de 1958 est très connue, beaucoup ignorent qu’une exposition a aussi été organisée sur le site du Heysel en 1935. Si les moyens mis en oeuvre en 1935 sont loin de rivaliser avec ceux de 1958, cette exposition n’est pas à oublier: en effet, elle est à l’origine de l’élaboration du site du Heysel et de nos jours, les palais de 1935 servent encore pour des événements divers, salons, expositions…
Une pièce de 50 BEF a été émise à cette occasion. Elle présente sur une face Saint-Michel: symbole de la Ville de Bruxelles et sur l’autre face le Palais du Heysel ainsi que les dates 1835 – 1935 car cette pièce commémore aussi le centième anniversaire des chemins de fer belges.  

50 Francs belges 1935 - Saint-Michel

• Métal = alliage de 68% d’argent et de 32 % de cuivre
• Diamètre = 35 mm
• Poids = 22 gr
• tranche lisse avec inscription en creux 
  SOUS LE REGNE DU ROI LEOPOLD III pour les pièces en Français
  ONDER DE REGERING VAN DE KONING LEOPOLD III pour les pièces en Néerlandais
• Frappe: 140.346 pièces en Français et 140.345 en Néerlandais

50 Francs belges 1935 – 100 ans de chemin de fer belge

Clicca per ingrandire

Giornale di Seregno del 3/6/2009

En el 2005, en los cuartos de final de la UEFA Champions League

Hoy, hace 24 años que sucedió la tragedia del estadio de Heysel… en aquella final de la Copa Europea (la ahora llamada Champions League), esa final entre la Juventus y el Liverpool, todo comenzo por ahi de una hora antes del gran juego, unos seguidores del Liverpool solamente estaban separados por una barda, del otro lado estaban las gentes de la Juve, total… en un acto de hooliganismo, la afición Red empezo a presionar la barda, derrumbandola sobre los seguidores italianos (bueno, eran belgas (de Belgica, no sean pendejos ¬¬) italianos y demas, no recuerdo exactamente) causando la muerte y lesiones en muchas personas, a pesar de todo esto, el partido se disputo de cualquier manera, culminando con un resultado de 1-0 favor a la Juventus con un penal de Michel Platini (el presidente actual de la UEFA).

El resultado de esto fue un veto de clubes ingleses en competiciones Europeas (y a nivel Selección tambien) que duro 5 años, 6 para el Liverpool.
La afición de la Juve condeo las actitudes de los ingleses en eso, sin importar que se hacia para tratar de aminorar la culpa.

Curiosamente, esa noche… el Liverpool iba por su 5ta Orejona, pero por azares del destino se nos vino dando por ahi de 20 años despues.

La foto que esta al principio del post, es de amicizia, un desplegado que se vio en las gradas cuando el Liverpool y la Juventus se volvieron a topar en la Copa Europea, en los cuartos de final en Anfield,

In memoria e amizicia..

Per arrivare al campo, dalla nostra sede:
Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Réunion publique autour du projet Neo (Heysel)

Le mercredi 6 mai à 20h, salle Cinédoc, bâtiment administratif du Parc des Expositions.

Cette réunion publique autour du projet Neo, le nom officiel du réaménagement du site du Heysel, va permettre aux riverains d’être informés et de pouvoir poser leurs questions sur le futur du plateau.

Nom du lieu : Cinédoc – Parc des Expositions

Coordonnées : Place de Belgique, 1 – 1020 Bruxelles (Laeken)

Prix et réduction : Libre.

Ouvert :
06/05/2009
Mercredi
Langue de la manifestation: NL FR
Public: Tous

Gratuit

doc, bâtiment administratif du Parc des Expositions.

Cette réunion publique autour du projet Neo, le nom officiel du réaménagement du site du Heysel, va permettre aux riverains d’être informés et de pouvoir poser leurs questions sur le futur du plateau.

Nom du lieu : Cinédoc – Parc des Expositions

Coordonnées : Place de Belgique, 1 – 1020 Bruxelles (Laeken)

Prix et réduction : Libre.
Ouvert :
06/05/2009
Mercredi
Langue de la manifestation: NL FR
Public: Tous

Gratuit

‘Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I can assure you, it’s much more important than that.’

Bill Shankly, the most charismatic if not the most successful manager of Liverpool Football Club, is a legend, rightly adored to this day by the red contingent of Merseyside, and revered as the founding father of the great tradition of the club. In the sixties and seventies fans hung on his every word. Whether he was inviting the press to come and take a tour round the ‘man mountain’ that was his new centre back Ron Yeats, or geeing up a young Kevin Keegan by claiming that their opponents captain that day, West Ham and England’s Bobby Moore, looked tired and as though he’d ‘been out on the tiles’, Shanks was instantly quotable. Some of his sayings have gone down in football folklore and none more so than the notion that football is more than a matter of life and death.

In the post-Hillsborough era, of course, this is one Shankly quote that can no longer be taken at face value. Twenty years ago 96 Liverpool fans died in a crush during an F.A Cup semi final held at the famous old Sheffield ground. Yesterday was April the 15th, the actual anniversary, and the occasion was marked by a special service held at Anfield (which happens every year) and also by documentaries and media commentaries. Hillsborough changed football forever. The ensuing Taylor Report on the tragedy ushered in the modern game: all seater stadiums, security handled by professional stewards rather than (often part-time) policemen, less opportunities for the sort of hooliganism which had blighted English football in the 1970s and early 80s. It is perhaps fitting that football hooligans decreased as a result of the Taylor Report as certain sections of the media wrongly accused Liverpool fans of causing the Hillsborough disaster. Lazy journalism led to all manner of stories about fighting (why would Liverpool fans be fighting themselves?), of people robbing those who lay dead and dying on the terraces, and of fans urinating on the police and ambulance services trying to help the wounded.

The worst culprit when it came to circulation of such lies was the editor of the Sun newspaper, Kelvin Mackenzie. Many, including some of Mackenzie’s staff, have since claimed that they were merely reporting the story as it was relayed to them by police officers present at the ground. If this is true then those police officers were obviously trying to shift blame from themselves and onto the innocent victims. The facts of the matter are simple: something like 4000 Liverpool fans were crowded into a space that fire regulations ought to have ensured only 1600 occupied; police at the gate made a decision to open another entrance, one which led directly to the ill-fated stand, because there were still fans outside and it was almost kick-off time; the rush meant that there was nowhere for the people at the front to go except to be crushed against the steel barriers which separated them from the pitch. No fighting, no hooliganism, just a mismanaged recipe for death and disaster. Why the police could not have recommended a delayed kick-off is still a mystery. Such a decision might well have prevented 96 people from dying simply because they chose to go and watch a game of football.

There was, it is true, a reason why the press and some of the public were so willing to believe that the Liverpool fans themselves must have caused this situation to arise. That reason was Heysel. Four years earlier, during the final of the 1985 European Champions Cup in Bruges, a small section of Liverpool followers had infiltrated the Juventus fans and started a fight which resulted in the collapse of a stand and the death of 39 people (with a further 600 injured). The event had shocked the game, not least because Liverpool fans had never had a reputation for such behaviour before. Some see it as fitting that the game was allowed to go on and Juventus were victorious. A dreadful event and perhaps the darkest hour in the clubs history, at least in terms of their supporters.

Liverpool may have gone on to win a handful of further League titles and F.A Cups but it is my belief that the club began to lose a little of its soul after Heysel. It may have recovered more convincingly had Hillsborough not occurred so soon afterwards. After 1989 the club that Shanks built, that Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and then Kenny Dalglish had continued to steer towards domestic and European successes, that club could no longer be said to exist. the last English League Title was as long ago as 1990 and it took the UEFA Cup and Champions League victories of 2001 and 2005 respectively to remind people of the glorious history of the team. Now, under the auspices of Spanish manager Rafael Benitez, Liverpool have managed to sustain a serious bid for the Premier League title for the first time since its inauguration in 1992. Manchester United are still favourites to retain their crown but to be only a point behind them (albeit with a game less to play) six matches from the end of the season, shows that Liverpool are perhaps finally ready to lay the ghosts of the past behind them and make a real bid to add further glories to their litany of past success. Time alone will tell if this is the dawning of a new era or simply a good, if not brilliant season.

One thing is as clear today as it was twenty years ago: because of Heysel and Hillsborough no-one connected with Anfield can ever again claim that football is more important than life and death. With the names of 96 dead inscribed on a memorial outside the away end of the ground, we must always remember that football is just a game; a beautiful game and one which can bring peaks of elation as well as bouts of despair, but only a game after all. Not even Shanks would want to argue with that.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164037090416-0909.htm

Pentru Liverpool si fanii ei, dimineata de 15 aprilie 2009, la cei douazeci de ani dupa Hillsborough, de care aminteam ieri, a adus regretul unei eroice eliminari la finele unei epice batalii pe Stamford Bridge. N-are rost sa ne ferim de figuri de stil. A fost un 4-4 faurit de un fotbal la superlativ. “Cormoranii” au fost la un pas de calificare, si la 2-0 si la 4-3, iesind din scena cu capul sus, cu mandria ca au jucat o partitura de care suporterii lor rapusi la Sheffield ar fi fost la randul lor mandri. De fapt, probabil acesta a fost cuvantul de ordine rostit de capitanul Gerrard in vestiar, inaintea returului de la Chelsea… Sa dam totul in memoria fanilor care piereau acum 20 de ani, imbracati in “rosul” clubului. Iar Liverpool in varianta 2009 si-a onorat istoria, traditia, trecutul…

Pentru fotbalul englez reprezentat pe scena europeana de “careul de asi” din Premier League, seara de 15 aprilie 2009, incununata cu doua calificari in semifinale adjudecate fara gol primit in retururile cu adversare iberice, a confirmat dominatia evidenta a fortelor din Albion, accentuata in ultimii cativa ani.

In anul 2004, cand doar Chelsea Londra se strecura intre semifinalistele din UEFA Champions League, inclinandu-se in fata monegascilor, nu multi ar fi banuit aceasta rapida schimbare a raportului de forte pe continent. Un an mai tarziu, numarul reprezentantelor Albionului in semifinale se dubla, Chelsea fiind din nou eliminata, de Liverpool, cu un unic gol vremelnic care… n-a fost, al lui Luis Garcia. Vantul schimbarii adia deja usor, Anglia crescand in retrovizoarele reprezentantelor fotbalului latin.

Iar la 25 mai 2005, la Istanbul, la douazeci de ani dupa drama de pe Heysel din Bruxelles, derulata in 29 mai ‘85 cu fanii lui Liverpool in prim-plan din cele mai grave motive, Steven Gerrard si trupa sa de “Cormorani” au oferit un prim crampei din aceasta permanenta lupta a clubului de pe Mersey pentru a-si redobandi sceptrul puterii, pentru a mangaia si odihni in pace copii ca Jon-Paul, verisorul lui Stevie G, de care pomeneam, rapusi pe altarul fotbalului si care vegheaza de-acolo din ceruri amplitudinea unei flacari ce nu se stinge.

Renasterea din repriza secunda, de la 0-3 la 3-3, cu Gerrard, Smicer si Alonso punctand in 6 minute, incununata cu triumful la lovituri de departajare in dauna “Diavolului” milanez, a reprezentat indiciul puterii de regenerare a unui club, al unui fotbal insular. Albionul venea din urma si lansa un avertisment miraculos la Portile Europei… Doar Manchester United, la Barcelona, “intorcand” la fel de miraculos in fata lui Bayern, mai adusese cel mai pretios trofeu in insula dinaintea dramei de pe Heysel incoace. Mai exact de la episodul altor penaltyuri cu Liverpool la pupitru, in ‘84, la Roma.

Avertismentul a fost urmat de o consolidare. Desi cu o unica echipa in semifinalele din 2006, decise in 6 ore de fotbal de doar doua goluri, ale lui Toure si Giuly, Anglia nu mai alerga in gol, incercand sa prinda trenul cu italiene si spaniole, ci sarise deja din mers intr-unul din vagoane, acolo, la Bosfor, in repriza secunda. Arsenal a trecut de Villarreal dar, conform regulii incapacitatii cluburilor londoneze de a triumfa in C1, fie ea numita C.C.E. ori Champions League, a cedat in finala cu Barcelona, oferind totusi Albionului doza de incredere generata de prezenta in doua ultime acte la rand.

Din 2007 incoace, Anglia a ridicat brusc stacheta. Acum, in 15 aprilie 2009, pentru al treilea an la rand, Anglia a ajuns cu 3 dintre fortele “careului de asi” din Premier League in semifinalele Champions League. Si trebuie subliniat ca a patra forta, Liverpool, a fost eliminata de un alt club englez, dupa o mansa retur in urma careia nici o formatie marcatoare a patru goluri in deplasare n-ar fi meritat sa paraseasca arena si competitia. 4-4 in deplasare si eliminata e un semn ca daca sortii le-ar permite si surade, niste semifinale europene “all English” n-ar fi imposibile…

In 2007, jucand mansa retur acasa pe Anfield, Liverpool se califica la penaltyuri in fata lui Chelsea, din cealalta semifinala tasnind AC Milan, eliminatoarea “Diavolilor rosii”. O repetitie a finalei din Turcia, doar cu scenariul tinut din scurt de italieni si nu scapat de sub control, ca dupa pauza, la Istanbul. Dar, pentru al treilea an la rand, Albionul din nou in finala.

Aceleasi trei semifinaliste engleze si in 2008, Chelsea profitand de avantajul terenului propriu in prelungirile returului cu Liverpool iar Manchester United invatand din anul precedent sa nu mai incaseze goluri pe Old Trafford dupa ce marcase, acum prin Scholes, si sa nu mai ia trei in retur, ca pe San Siro: 1-0 si 0-0 cu Barcelona. Restul a fost doar istorie, cu o finala “all English” in premiera, tarziu in noapte, la Moscova, cu ploaie, bare si lovituri de departajare. United pentru a treia oara campioana a Europei, Chelsea din nou pe scut in numele Londrei.

2009… Sfertul de finala ‘all English” a oferit 12 goluri si o demonstratie de fotbal caracteristica greilor “careului de asi”, cand dau piept in Premier League. Liverpool – Chelsea a fost produsul de lux la export al regenerarii unui fotbal suicidal la Bruxelles si ingropat pe Hillsborough dar renascut din propria cenusa si reinventat sub forma unui vehicul televizat, plin de bani, Premier League, si care a ales bob cu bob patru cluburi care sa domine nu doar Anglia, ci si continentul. Epopeea continua.

Acum nu va mai fi vorba de Liverpool, in scena intrand Arsenal. “Tunarii” perceputi drept “subtiri”, inghiontiti de jocul barbatesc pe insula, dar spunand pe-aici nu se trece cu Villarreal: zero goluri primite. Arsenal – Man United e o semifinala reiscand rivalitatea Wenger – Ferguson, candva furibunda, recent estompata de aparitiile in scena ale unor Mourinho ori Benitez. Dar francezul si scotianul nu s-au uitat. Va triumfa zelul londonez de a pune intr-o buna zi mana pe eluzivul trofeu ori mandria mancuniana de a-si proteja cupa adusa din Rusia?

Pe celalalt front, “intrusa” Barcelona si Chelsea lui Hiddink. O Chelsea poate mai incisiva ca oricand, tocmai datorita lui Hiddink, candva un triumfator in Cupa Campionilor Europeni, la carma lui PSV. Vor reusi catalanii “un Milan”, ca in 2007, cand, strecurata intre trei engleze, trupa italiana cucerea trofeul, sau va rotunji Hiddink nu doar o alta finala engleza, ci chiar londoneza? Asta pentru a risipi emotiile capitalei Regatului in privinta spargerii ghetii in C1. Ar fi un moment potrivit, pentru descretirea fruntilor intr-o metropola ce-si pierde puterea pe alte planuri…

In mai ‘89, un AC Milan cu crema, frisca si caramelele olandeze demola un club ajuns pentru a doua oara in patru sezoane in finala in absenta din competitie a tartorelor de pana atunci, cluburile engleze. In mai 2009, formatiile din Albion vor reconfirma ca nu doar participa ci isi aroga locu(rile) in finala candva traditionale pana la “episodul Heysel”. Toate au trecut pe rand pe la potirul aurit. A fost “epoca Real”, a fost dominatia lui Ajax si Bayern, au fost italienele si spaniolele pe cat englezele revenisera dar isi lingeau inca ranile, regrupandu-se, iar din 2005 incoace e un remember al finelor anilor ‘70 si startului anilor ‘80, cu Albionul imperator. Roata vietii.

Alte doua considerente, esentiale, ca antrenorii, jucatorii si conducatorii “englezelor”  sunt de fapt straini respectiv ca valoarea Premier League in ansamblul ei trebuie judecata nu doar prin rezultatele “careului de asi” ci si prin neputinta celorlalte cluburi din elita Albionului de a gasi niste reprezentante demne de succese in Cupa UEFA, au greutatea lor si pot ciunti pana la un anumit punct sclipirea succesului insular. Samburele ramane insa, vorba suedezilor de la ABBA, the winner takes it all… Iar mai nou englezele au luat “fata” si frisca in Champions League. Poate de-acum spre plictiseala nu doar a fanilor restului, ci si a neutrilor. Ce va aduce o probabila schimbare?

Au trecut douazeci de ani dar, asa cum a oftat sufletul lui Steven Gerrard, unele rani nu se pot vindeca.

In 15 aprilie ‘89, departe de scena fotbalului european, de pe care cel englez fusese aruncat vreme de cinci sezoane pentru tragedia de pe Heysel, o drama si mai mare lovea aceeasi grupare Liverpool Football Club. La Sheffield, pe Hillsborough, un alt stadion invechit, aidoma celui de la Bruxelles, si a carui denumire incepea cu “H”, 96 de morti, numerosi raniti. Un club, un oras si un fotbal din Albion in doliu.

Incotro? Aceasta era intrebarea pentru un fotbal englez in deriva, pentru un club “rosu” in genunchi.

Trecerea timpului n-a putut cauteriza si nu va vindeca pe vecie niste rani adanci, cum i-a declarat recent Steven Gerrard lui Henry Winter intr-un interviu pe marginea comemorarii dramei din 15 aprilie 1989 si publicat in The Daily Telegraph. Stevie G nu este doar capitanul unui club greu incercat, care n-a avut alta sansa decat sa stranga randurile, dar si verisorul celui mai tanar fan decedat pe Hillsborough. Jon-Paul Gilhooley avea doar 10 ani si batea mingea cu actualul capitan al “Cormoranilor”. Pana intr-o buna zi, cand sufletul i-a plecat in ceruri iar numele i-a ramas incrustat pe un adevarat memorial al durerii celor de la Anfield.

Comparativ cu tragedia “momentului Hillsborough ‘89″, cate nu palesc  oare in importanta? Intr-un moment comemorativ dar si de reflectie, cand o sumedenie de asemenea intrebari zboara de pe buze, adaug randurile sub care am semnat editorialul “Football Made in UK” publicat pe acest subiect in Fotbal Vest. Asadar, “Dupa 20 de ani”…

Saptamana aceasta se implinesc doua saptamani de la tragedia ce a catalizat schimbarea la fata a fotbalului englez, bancnotele actualei prosperitati a jocului in Albion, mai ales in Premier League, purtand urmele picaturilor de sange tanar al celor 96 de fani ai lui Liverpool morti pe Hillsborough.

15 aprilie 1989. Pe continent, Steaua trebuia doar sa se prezinte la Istanbul, peste 4 zile, pentru a se califica in finala C.C.E., dupa ce pe 5 aprilie isi acontase deja biletele pentru Barcelona cu un 4-0 contra lui Galatasaray, gratie golurilor lui Dumitrescu, Hagi, Petrescu si Balint. Ros-albastrii din Bucuresti aveau sa joace in al doilea ultim act din patru sezoane remarcabile datorita absentei prin suspendare a fotbalului englez din cupele europene.

Pierdeam vremea din camera in camera, in hotelul de pe muntele Semenic, cu schiurile pe tusa odata zapada tocmai topita, cand am deslusit pe ecran, printre “purecii de pe sarbi”, ca se derula o alta tragedie implicand suporteri englezi, dupa cea de pe Heysel. Si pentru ca in finala din ‘85 a C.C.E., cea cu Juventus, fanii lui Liverpool se dedasera la un huliganism barbaric, am sarit iute la concluzia ca asa zisi sustinatori isi dadeau din nou in petec, cu ocazia semifinalei Cupei Angliei, dintre aceiasi “Cormorani” si Nottingham Forest.

Poate ca respectiva perceptie eronata, inoculata de “momentul Heysel”, a determinat fortele de ordine implicate in sambata penultimului act al F.A. Cup, de pe Hillsborough din Sheffield, sa-i trateze oarecum “de pe cal” pe fanii lui Liverpool, ulterior controland defectuos puhoiul imbulzindu-se la intrarile peluzei Leppings Lane sa nu piarda startul jocului si finalmente mai mult franand operatiunile de salvare, odata ce tineri cu inima batand pentru fotbal sfarsisera sufocati si striviti in stadion, de gardul imprejmuitor si balustradele “a la arena UMT”.

Dupa douazeci de ani, nu doar familiile si apropiatii tinerelor victime inocente de pe Hillsborough traiesc cu o rana deschisa, ci si intreaga suflare apartinatoare de “Cormorani” are convingerea de neclintit ca nu s-a facut dreptate, in conditiile in care erorile de abordare ale fortelor politienesti au fost musamalizate. Intr-o recenta documentare dand cuvantul catorva oameni prezenti la tragedia conturata la 6 minute dupa startul meciului, de la Peter Beardsley, fotbalistul lui Liverpool, care nimerea bara in minutul 3, si pana la un fan al “rosiilor” ori soferul unicei ambulante care a fost lasata de politie sa intre pe teren pentru prim-ajutor, cotidianul The Guardian a adunat dovezi in sprijinul ipotezei grupului de suporteri ai “Cormoranilor”, conform careia fortele de ordine ar fi cauzat si favorizat tragedia.

Furia clocotita a celor din Liverpool a fost inflamata de neverosimilele titluri din editia de-a doua zi a celor de la The Sun, care, citand surse anonime, a scris ca unii fani s-au dedat la furturi de la victime din peluza sau de pe gazon, ca au impiedicat cadrele medicale in operatiunile de prim-ajutor, ba chiar ca ar fi urinat pe corpurile neinsufletite sau, in cea mai odioasa afirmatie, ca o tanara pe moarte era abuzata sexual. Nu doar in Liverpool n-au cazut bine respectivele titluri, lansate pe baza unor “garoafe aruncate” de forte interesate, ci chiar si in redactia cotidianului. Minciuni sfruntate, au urlat din toti rarunchii cei din Liverpool care au boicotat apoi ani buni The Sun, dar supravietuitorii si comunitatea “Cormoranilor” au ramas cu gustul amar al frustrarii si al unei evidente injustitii, exacerbate de absenta totala a oricarei condamnari penale pentru cei din politie in urma mortii celor 96 de suporteri.

Unii cinici merg chiar mai departe, punand cap la cap coincidenta deciziei forului federal de a gazdui semifinala pe invechitul stadion al lui Sheffield Wednesday cu incompetenta fortelor de ordine. Sa nu fi fost oare vorba de un scenariu, avandu-i drept tapi ispasitori pe fanii lui Liverpool cu blazonul intinat pe Heysel, care sa serveasca ulterior altor scopuri?

Cert e ca la ora semifinalei fotbalul englez incheia al patrulea an de suspendare din cupele europene si era in plina criza de popularitate si credibilitate. Arene roase de ani scartaiau din incheieturi iar fanii inca isi dadeau in voie in petec, in vreme ce asistenta la meciuri scadea. Era nevoie de o schimbare. Iar efectul tragediei din 15 aprilie ‘89, de pe Hillsborough, se contura in august sub forma raportului interimar al prim-justitiarului Taylor, definitivat in 1990, si care recomanda reamenajarea arenelor, fara parapete ori garduri intre gazon si tribune, dar numai cu locuri pe scaune. “Curatenie” si control al multimii.

Au trecut 20 de ani si arenele Albionului, nu doar in Premier League, sunt adevarate teatre ale fotbalului. Chibitii nu se mai inghesuie ca sardelele, in picioare, in peluze, ci – ordonati – isi preiau locurile presonalizate. In paralel, ca efect esential al tragediei de la Sheffield, jocul salubrizat a devenit si televizat. Coincidenta sau nu, in 5 februarie al aceluiasi an, Sky TV anunta intr-o conferinta de presa lansarea pe piata britanica, inclusiv cu “aripa” sa sportiva, continand un prim contract in valoare de 304 milioane lire sterline, pentru drepturi exclusive de televizare, ce a stat la baza demararii in 1992 a Premier League, “masina fotbalistica de bani” care, iata, crescand si crescand, da trei semifinaliste in Champions League.

Asadar, per total, fotbalul englez a prosperat mai ales la varf mai abitir ca niciodata, de pe urma raportului Taylor, intocmit special dupa tragedie, incasand vartos in schimbul accesibilitatii pe micile ecrane, barata absolut, fara ,macar un joc transmis in direct in deceniile sapte si opt. In particular insa, supravietuitorii si apropiatii victimelor de pe Hillsborough nu si-au gasit linistea, ci unii dintre ei moartea, iar clubul Liverpool, lovit de tragedie la Sheffield in plina revenire de forma in campionat, de la un deficit de 15 puncte la Anul Nou fata de Arsenal la postura de lider, nu doar ca pierdea incredibil titlul la potou, in ultimul meci al editiei, dar, in ciuda triumfului ulterior, din 1990, nu avea sa mai castige campionatul nici pana in ziua de azi. Urmele ranilor adanci…

Pentru Liverpoool si fanii ei, tragedia a avut un efect nefast. Pentru fotbalul in varianta comercializata si mediatizata, catalizator a fost Raportul Taylor. Insa redactate au fost doar recomandari la adresa sigurantei stadioanelor, nefiind pusi la zid posibilii vinovati ai tragediei de pe Hillsborough. Printre care victime, copii si tineri inocenti. Cu alte cuvinte, mame nu si-au gasit impacarea iar clubul cadenta, atat in planul comercializarii sale globale cat si a succeselor in prima liga, secate – cutit intors in rana – in favoarea marei rivale din Lancashire, Man United. Dar fotbalul englez “post Hillsborough” s-a redefinit in toate planurile prin organismul de sine statator Premier League, care acum nici macar nu mai contine in titulatura firescul The F.A. Federatia nu mai tuteleaza, liga are propria “umbrela”.

De la disperarea plumburie a unui 15 aprilie cu aproape 100 de mori si multi raniti, intr-un fotbal repudiat de Europa, la un miez de aprilie din 2009 cu “Cormoranii” preluati de nord-americani si Chelsea imprumutata de un rus jucand ca la carte pentru un loc in semifinalele UEFA Champions League. O metamorfoza nascuta din sange varsat cu ocazia de gala a semifinalei celei mai vechi competitii din istoria fotbalului mondial, The F.A. Cup.

Atunci, in ‘89, Liverpool avea sa castige Cupa Angliei dar pierdea apoi titlul in ultima partida, dupa inchiderea editiei, chiar acasa pe Anfield, cu fosta lidera devenita urmaritoare, Arsenal, care avea doar sansa unui succes la macar doua goluri diferenta. Intr-un joc ramas in folclorul fotbalului insular, regretatul Michael Thomas avea sa inscrie acel al doilea gol izbavitor decisiv pentru “Tunari” chiar in minutul 90. Se intampla, nefiresc, intr-o vineri, 26 mai, la sase saptamani dupa tragedia de pe Hillsborough, intr-o reprogramare, data initiala a derbyului, la opt zile dupa “drama Sheffield”, fiind amanata. Sufletele plecate in ceruri parca luasera cu ele arta lui Liverpool de a acapara titluri nationale si europene cu o “ermetica” tinand de rezultat.

Foloase aveau sa traga doar cei care, oportunist ori premeditat, au exploatat 15 aprilie generand o schimbare intr-atat de radicala de parca intunecatii ani ‘80, cu huligani, peluze cu buruieni si suspendari din eurocupe, nici n-ar fi existat.

La serie A italienne n’observera aucun arrêt: au lendemain de la journée de deuil national et alors que la recherche de possibles survivants continue, le championnat a repris cet après-midi… C’est néanmoins depuis le monde du calcio que s’élève une contestation à ce bien triste exemple.

Comme le souligne Malcom Pagani de L’Unità, malgré des initiatives de soutien (maillots vendus aux enchères, matchs amicaux en arrivée…) et de solidarité venant de joueurs (Totti, De Rossi, Frey, Seedorf, Zanetti, Toni…) ou de clubs comme Naples, Florence, Turin ou Lecce , la Serie A du Calcio italien ne s’arrête pas.

La majeure partie des entraineurs s’est plutôt, à chose décidée, réfugiée derrière la décision de la fédération de n’avoir rien changé au programme.

C’est l’entraineur de Palerme, Ballardini , qui a lui-même tiré la sonnette d’alarme et appelé des journalistes: “Le championnat aurait du s’arrêter. Point à la ligne. Cela aurait donné un vrai signe de soutien entre notre monde, le calcio, souvent considéré lointain des “gens”, mais qui n’est pas pourtant pas aussi indifférent qu’on pourrait le croire“.

Ces “c.t.” comme on les appelle ici sont bien obligés de commenter, même embarrassés.

Ainsi De Canio à Lecce: “Je crois que l’Association des Entraineurs aurait du faire suspendre le tournoi. Je n’ai rien dit avant parce qu’on ne me l’avait pas demandé. Mais vous savez, des paroles venant de l’entraineur du Lecce…” conclut-il sous-entendant son peu de poids dans une telle histoire.

À Florence, Prandelli dit “D’abord j’ai pensé qu’il aurait été juste que personne ne joue et qu’on parte nous-mêmes là-bas aider ces gens, un peu pour combler l’écart qui existe entre la vie réelle et le football. Puis a prévalu (dans notre décision) l’envie de jouer même si cela est un grand sacrifice mental“.

Spaletti de Rome: “Je ne sais pas pourquoi le stop n’a pas été décrété, je ne connais pas le règlement en la matière ni la raison pour laquelle la serie B s’est arrêtée et pas la A. Mais arrivé là je dirai que le football, qui représente divertissement et loisir, va peut-être aidé ces personnes en leur donnant la possibilité de vivre quelques instants agréables “.

Ranieri de la Juventus est beaucoup plus clair : “Nous ne voulions pas jouer, mais c’est la “Lega” qui décide, pas nous“.

Bref, bien qu’en désaccord avec leur fédération ils n’ont pas su s’imposer à un moment important.

Rappelant au passage la tragédie du Heysel, L’Unità souligne combien, encore une fois, le calcio est “hors-phase” en ce lendemain de deuil et quotidien de tragédie nationale. Le cirque aurait effectivement pu être fermé pour quelques jours.

Quand le Calcio ne sert à rien

_a&c_
Source: L’Unità (Malcom Pagani)

Lire aussi sur ce blog: “La Chine entend-t-elle désigner le futur lauréat du prix Nobel de la Paix?”

Dopo la débâcle europea delle squadre italiane – si salva, al momento, solo l’Udinese in Coppa Uefa – siamo andati a scavare nelle nostre menti le dieci peggior figure delle nostre nel continente.

E voi, ne ricordate altre?

Olympic Marsiglia vs Milan 1 – 0 (3 – 0 a tavolino)

20 marzo 1991

“La fuga di Marsiglia” titolava Gianni Mura su Repubblica. Dopo aver pareggiato 1 – 1 in casa all’andata il Milan, sotto di un gol e quindi eliminato
non reagisce fin quando al novantesimo si spegne un riflettore. Gente in campo, confusione e Galliani che pensa bene di ritirare la squadra dal campo perché la partita non si può giocare per mancanza d’illuminazione. Risultato? Partita persa a tavolino e un anno di squalifica per i rossoneri.

Juventus vs Liverpool 1 – 0

29 maggio 1985

Nonostante sapessero, come dichiarato in interviste successive, degli oltre 30 morti, i giocatori della Juve scendono in campo e Platini esulta smodatamente subito dopo aver segnato il rigore (regalato) della vittoria.

Valencia – Inter 0 – 0

6 marzo 2007

Ancora una volta l’Inter di Mancini viene eliminata prematuramente in Champion’s League, offrendo una prova ritenuta dai più indegna. Ma l’episodio vergognoso avviene a partita finita quando Navarro, il secondo portiere del Valencia, colpisce e stende Burdisso. Da quel momento è l’inferno, con Cordoba, Cruz, Maicon e Burdisso che inseguono lo spagnolo per fargliela pagare, invano. La rissa continua negli spogliatoi, lontano dalle telecamere.

Inter vs Milan 0 – 1

12 aprile 2005

Secondo euroderby milanese consecutivo e seconda eliminazione della squadra nerazzurra. I suoi tifosi però non accettano la sconfitta e nel momento in cui l’arbitro annulla un gol a Cambiasso inizia la contestazione. Pioggia di fumogeni dalla nord, uno dei quali colpisce alla spalla il portiere del Milan Nelson Dida.

Milan vs Liverpool 3 – 3 (5 – 6 dopo i rigori)

25 maggio 2005

Dopo aver chiuso il primo tempo in vantaggio per 3-0, i rossoneri riescono nella difficile impresa di perdere la finale di Champion’s League. “5 maggio rossonero”, titola giustamente una delle tante tv private lombarde al termine della partita.

Manchester Utd vs Roma 7 – 1

10 aprile 2007

Lo stadio dei sogni diventa un incubo per la Roma. I giallorossi partono per Manchester con il dichiarato obiettivo di passare il turno dopo il 2 a 1 casalingo. E invece subiscono la peggior sconfitta di una squadra italiana in una fase finale della Champion’s League.

Werder Brema vs Napoli 5 – 1

6 dicembre 1989

Il Napoli di Maradona ne prende cinque a Brema. Finisce in anticipo e male l’avventura dei partenopei che non riescono a bissare la vittoria della Coppa Uefa dell’anno prima.

Inter vs Bayern Monaco 1 – 3

7 dicembre 1988

Dopo aver vinto 2-0 all’andata a casa dei tedeschi e aver esultato per due settimane consecutive, l’Inter passa subito in vantaggio ma si fa travolgere ed eliminare. Al termine della partita Augenthaler dichiara: “Nelle partite che contano Matthaus sparisce sempre“.

Deportivo La Coruna vs Milan 4 – 0

7 aprile 2004

“Il Milan esce incredibilmente dalla Champions League incassando un indecoroso 4-0 a La Coruna”. Così il sito web di Repubblica. Nient’altro da aggiungere.

Celtic vs Milan 2 – 1

3 ottobre 2007

Non è tanto il risultato ma la prova d’attore del portiere del Milan, Nelson Dida, a macchiare la reputazione del nostro calcio in campo internazionale.

Is it harmless banter or malicious intent that fuels the football fans chanting and taunting from the terraces?

As I set off East Midlands-bound for Manchester United’s Carling Cup semi-final encounter with Derby County at their Pride Park stadium on Wednesday I reluctantly anticipated a footballing upset. Sure enough the upset materialised, but in later reflecting on the events of that night what I found most distressing was in fact the behaviour of the football fans, in what was a thoroughly pride-less display.

In the bars and pubs around Derby – I can only account for those that allowed themselves to be overrun by the travelling United fans – the singing and chanting rang out loud and clear from our vocal support. Anyone who ventured near, including the local police who bravely entered a number of times, would have certainly been impressed by the bold, brash and unwavering chants that reverberated about the streets. Yet despite this merriness, the closer it got to kick off, the more malevolent and ominous the chanting became as the atmosphere began to take on an uncomfortable air as if some were preparing for conflict.

One chant in particular struck a nerve and set my mind in motion for this post you have before you. This song I speak of put lyrics and verse to the tragic event of two Leeds United fans that were stabbed to death in violent clashes with Galatasaray fans in Turkey on an away European night in 2000.

As kick-off approached and the songs followed the throng of fans out the pubs we made our way to the stadium which was already resounding with rumbling noise as it was filling up. As we queued at the ticket collection point my friend let out a show of frustration for the delay in his ticket arriving only to hear vulgar racist insults spurted out in his direction by a fellow United fan.

For the full 90 minutes the volleys of chanting rebounded between both sets of fans. The United faithful were only to be silenced momentarily by the jubilation erupting from three sides of the ground when Kris Commons’ thunderbolt crashed into the back of the net, yet the fans exuberance could not be transmitted to the players and the Premiership champions floundered to a 1-0 defeat. As the final whistle went it appeared that the vociferous chanting from the away end had to take on a more physical form and so, just on cue, kids as young as 12 proceeded to kick in the Derby stadium seats in vain attempts at salvaging the last laugh while being chased away by fluorescently attired stewards.

“Best fans in the world,” quoted Wayne Rooney recently. I find it hard to believe that this behaviour represents the pinnacle that is on show in this institution’s supporters. The pride I exclusively hold for my team was quickly wearing thin for this contingent of my fellow travelling fans.

As we trudged back toward the station surrounded by several equally disgruntled United fans sounding out excuses for the defeat, my friend recounted a particularly terrifying confrontation with opposition fans outside Liverpool’s Anfield stadium barely a year ago after a United injury-time victory. In recognising his thick Manchester accent a group, shrouded by hoodies and scarves over their faces, caught up with him and his two friends and proceeded to kick seven shades of sh- out of them in broad daylight. The current threat of clashes between football firms that undeniably persists from its most savage days of the 80s is clearly still alive and evidently kicking.

There is no love lost between Manchester United and Liverpool FC on the pitch no less than between the two cities inhabitants. The history of skirmishes between the two fierce rivals is well documented by the teams’ supporters eager to get the terraces going in reminding the opposition of the tragedies of their past.

Most recently, the Michael Shields incident occurring in Istanbul and the possible incarceration of an innocent man has encouraged ridicule from the Stretford End of Old Trafford. These chants would undoubtedly be sparked off or responded to by references to the Munich air disaster of 1958 and insufferable imitations of plane engines which constantly pierced my eardrums when travelling to Old Trafford on the Manchester Metro last season. Then again, this would only encourage the retaliation of the chant “Murderers…murderers…” by the United culprits in reminding of the tragic Heysel and Hillsborough Disasters of the 80s resulting in the deaths of 39 and 96 fans crushed and trampled to death in the melee and mayhem of matches both involving Liverpool fans. 

In witnessing the infectious animalistic chanting that pours down from the football terraces across the country, I question whether this method of supporting the team closest to your heart has lost all sporting meaning and given way to a malicious mob like mentality.

So what is it that churns up these primitive emotions at Pride Park and every other football stadium on Saturday afternoons? What is it that keeps people coming back for more generation after generation? Can this behaviour be accepted or must it be excused as part and parcel, just a bit of fun, all part of the game?

Just as with Wazza (Mr. Rooney) take away the fury that burns the fire in his belly and you’ll lose the spirit and enthusiasm of his performance – rid the game of these away-day duels and terrace taunts and you’ll lose the passion at the core of Britain’s football tradition.

But for me, the more sung about the history of the club and the players, and the less said about these supporter feuds and past conflicts the better; to ensure these future away-days remind football fans to protect the pride of the tradition and lose the prejudice of the game.

With over 50 games under my belt in 2008, added to 33 new stadiums and over 60 flights to get there I thought I would reserve a chapter at the end of the year for the first ever The Ball Is Round Awards.  For a more musical view of the nominations and winners click on the relevant videos below.

Best new stadium visited in 2008
3rd Place – The Dinamo Stadium, Minsk. Not a real classic but a typical Soviet stadium with some huge floodlights and the away fans situated along the side of the pitch.

2nd Place – The Dripping Pan, Lewes> Yes it is really basic but it is certainly unique and one of the most picturesque. And it has the best name.

The Bochum massive

The Winner – The Rewirpower Stadion – VfL Bochum.
It had to be a German winner and what better stadium than Bochum’s Rewirpower/Ruhr Stadion. A classic ground with four connected single tier stands almost touching the pitch and a passionate crowd to match.

Worst new stadium visited in 2008
3rd Place – Trellesborgs. OK, it was a dark, damp night but I could not find anything appealling about this little town on the southern tip of Sweden. Not even the football lightened up the evening.

2nd Place – Salisbury City. I appreciate that it is a Blue Square ground but it really is in the middle of nowhere and had very little soul let alone atmosphere.

The winner - MTK Stadion

The Winner – MTK Stadion. The current Hungarian champions have invested absolutely nothing in their stadium and run away with this year’s award. A special mention must go to the ticket office workers who lock themselves in the womens toilet for their duty – sheer class.

 
Best Atmosphere at a game in 2008
3rd Place – Sweden v Greece – Euro2008 in Salzburg, June 2008. The Swedes came to town and took over Salzburg, turning everything yellow and blue. They filled the stadium and did not stopping getting behind their team in a dull game.

2nd Place – Orgryte 1 Jonkoping 0 – July 2008. A strange choice many would believe but this Swedish second division game played at the tiny Valhalla stadium in Goteborg was the homecoming of local hero Marcus Allback and so the ground was full to busting and the atmosphere superb. So good in fact that littlest Fuller fell asleep 5 minutes in for the whole game!

The Brondby fans celebrate an early goal

The Winner – IF Brondby 2 FC Midtylland 1 – March 2008 in Copenhagen. With the snow falling and the beer flowing the whole Faxe tribune literally bounced as the fans turned the heat up on a cold night. The game was the turning point in Brondby’s season and who can ever forget the impressive rendition of Elvis’s “Falling in love with you” by over 15,000 fans as the teams re-emerged for the second half.

 Worst Atmosphere at a game in 2008
3rd Place – Any game at Upton Park in 2007/08. Yes, you have read that right. Under clueless Curbishley, West Ham played some of the dullest football ever seen at Upton Park, and this lethargy seeped into the crowd. Take your pick from a number of games but undoubtably the 4-0 defeat to Chelsea was the low point, with most of the crowd gone before the hour mark.

2nd Place – Grays Athletic v FC Totton – November 2008. No doubts about this one as “Our Barry’s” fan club provide the only atmosphere or noise at the FA Cup game versus Totton.

The Winner - The Olympic Stadium

The Winner – Istanbul BBS v Rizaspor – February 2008 in The Olympic Stadium, Istanbul. A soulless venue in more ways than one that is so far from civilisation that NASA could recreate the moonlandings here. No public transport, no facilities and no crowds. Shall I go on? Even the riot police started arguing with themselves as there was so little to do.

 Best game seen in 2008
3rd Place – West Ham Utd 4 Blackburn 1 – August 2008. Unbelievably still under Curblishley (although this was to be his last game in charge) and with Paul Ince back at Upton Park for the first time as a manager, West Ham tore Blackburn apart. Oh how we dreamed of a top 6 spot at this point.

2nd Place – Italy 1 Romania 1 – Euro2008 Zurich – June 2008.
Euro2008 was a tournament that on most part did not disappoint in terms of the quality of action. This appeared to be a real mismatch on paper but the Romanians came within a Buffon penalty save of putting Italy out in a full house in Zurich.

France pound the Dutch goal in Berne

The Winner – Netherlands 4 France 1- Euro2008 in Berne, June 2008. Actually played on the same day as the Italy game above, this was the game of the tournament as Van Basten’s team swept aside a French team containing such world class talent as Anelka, Henry and Malouda. The Dutch seemed invincible at this stage. Cracking atmosphere to boot.

Worst game seen in 2008
3rd Place – Sweden 2 Greece 0 – Euro2008 in Salzburg June 2008. Who could ever forget the negative Greek tactics that included a spell of 47 consecutive passes where they played the ball across the back four trying to eat up time at 0-0.

2nd Place – FC Nordjaelland 1 Velje 2 – Supaliga in Farum, Denmark September 2008. Two teams with very little idea where the goal was who attempted to out do each other in hoofing the ball out of the ground. So bad I left after 50 minutes despite not having paid to get in.

Histon v York City

The Winner – Histon 1 York City 1 – Blue Square Premier – December 2008. A game on the coldest night of the year was not appealling to start but add in a pitch in awful condition and a team who simply hoof the ball into the corners at every opportunity was as appealling as watching Rusty Lee audition for a job in the Playboy Mansion.

A note here that the game between South Africa and Australia played at Loftus Road in September 2008 could well have won this catagory but it was so mind numbingly boring that Jonnie and I spent most of the game drinking in the bar and thus saw very little of the 2-2 draw.

The Best Fans in 2008
3rd Place – FC Karlsruher fans at home to Werder Bremen – December 2008. In a stadium that is hardly condusive to building an atmosphere, bottom placed Karlsruher’s fans gave it their all in an impressive display that undoubtably helped their team to a 1-0 win versus Bremen and lift them out of the bottom 3.

2nd Place – England fans in Berlin – November 2008. We came, we saw and we conquered our old enemies in Berlin in November 2008. Despite England fielding almost a B team the fans, fuelled on by a day consuming sausages and stiens of beer out sung their German rivals in a full house at the Olympic Stadion.

A birds eye view of the Swedes

The Winner – Swedish Fans in Salzburg – June 2008. There could only be one winner as the Swedes took over the town. The sight of 10,000 fans in their yellow shirts dancing and singing to Abba-esque in the fan zone was a sight to treasure, especially the cute blonde ones in their full football kits!

 The Worst Fans in 2008
3rd Place – MTK Budapest Fans. The Hungarian champions were flying top of the league when I visited their crumbling wreck of a stadium in March 2008. A crowd of no more than 500 turned up to welcome me. I’d hate to be there when they aren’t successful!

2nd Place – Istanbul BBS Fans. Enough said already about this white elephant of a stadium that is almost in a different country from Turkey let alone in the same city as the other teams from Istanbul. I counted 34 fans who did not sport away colours during the first half – in a 80,000 capacity stadium.

The hardcore fans congregate behind the goal at Levski Sofia

The Winner – Levski Sofia Fans. The so called biggest team in Bulgarian football and one who had regularly played European football including the Champions League group stages versus the likes of Chelsea in 2007. Yet they had less than a 1,000 fans for a game on a Saturday evening in October.

Note – I would add here that the most disappointing were the Galatasaray fans who have been so hyped up in the past. Welcome to Hell – more like Welcome to Highbury…sshhhh.

My Three Favourite Grounds of All Time
3rd Place – Wembley Stadium – London.  The old Wembley had a reputation as a world class venue but in reality it was a toilet.  It was an awful stadium to watch a game in but the new incarnation, the 90,000 new Wembley is one of the finest stadiums in the world.  Huge steep stands and every seat facing the centre circle means nobody is far from the action.  The accoustics are very impressive as well.  Just a shame that the FA sold its soul to the corporate dollar meaning that for virtually every game some of the seats lay empty.

2nd Place – Upton Park – London.  It had to be in here.  One of the few grounds that have improved since modernisation and it is a white hot atmosphere under the lights when the big teams come calling.  Manchester United would testify how hard it is to get something here as they have lost for the past two seasons.  It is just a shame the football on offer as been so poor over the past few years.

The Winner – RheinPark – Vaduz Liechenstein.  I know many people will be amazed that my favourite stadium is a small 8,000 capacity one in a country that is smaller than Croydon but trust me there are few more picturesque stadiums than the home of FC Vaduz and the Liechtenstein national team.  Sandwiched in the Rhine valley with the Alps on either side you can hear the polite cheers from the stadium from high up in the mountains.  If you want to watch a game in a postcard perfect setting then come hear, grab a beer and a sausage and watch a game – Vaduz are currently in the top league in Switzerland so games are a plenty. 

My Three Worst Grounds of All Time
3rd Place – Olympic Stadium – Barcelona. I hate Barcelona at the best of times but having been forced to come here to watch England play Andorra in two consecutive years is punishment enough for any fan. It is a nice stadium from the outside but is completely soulless inside with a running track and all bar one stand uncovered. Fine for the normal sunny climate here but not good for the torrential rain and near zero temperatures whenever we play here…oh and I hate Barcelona!

2nd Place – Renzo Baraba – Palermo.  Before West Ham were drawn to play here in the UEFA Cup in 2006 you could only go on its reputation as a poor venue for fans especially for the away fans who are “caged” in a corner of the stadium along way from the action.  Add to this the appalling conditions the fans have to go through to get into the stadium (walking through a unlit dark and damp cage where the home fans can throw down missles from above), the hostile policing and finally the fervant home fans and you get the picture this is not a venue for the feint heart.

The Winner – Heysel Stadium – Brussels.  Most people will remember the stadium from the awful events of May 1985 when Liverpool met Juventus in the European Cup Final and the subsequent crowd violence left over 50 Italians dead.  But this game should never had been played at this crumbling wreck of a stadium.  The whole ground was demolished and rebuilt and renamed as the King Baudoin Stadium.  However, the sight lines are appalling, entry and access still problematic and when the sun sets most of the stadium cannot see anything.  It is hardly surprising that no major club games have been played at the stadium since 1985.

article LeSoir déc05

TV Brussel 27janv06

article LaCapitale 28janv06

Ricordo a tutti che domani presso lo stadio Città di Meda ci sarà il terzo quadrangolare benefico di calcio, per onorare le vittime dello stadio Heysel. Questa sera ci siamo trovati davanti alla targa come annunciato, ecco alcune foto.

39 Angeli all’Heysel

Ventiquattro anni fa il sole di Bruxelles assisteva inebetito, in luogo di una divinità colpevolmente assente, alla mattanza più assurda di tifosi nella storia del calcio. Un’aggressione barbarica, ma studiata e intrapresa con perfidia e premeditata tattica militare, una “strage dolosa” come la definisce Francesco Caremani nel suo libro “Le verità sull’Heysel. Cronaca di una strage annunciata”. Prevedibile da parte dell’UEFA, ma ignorata, e mai contrastata dalle autorità di polizia del Belgio.
Si è scritto tutto ed il suo contrario su quella infausta giornata di Maggio. Abbiamo ascoltato e lasciati impuniti cori beceri in ogni curva d’Italia ad insozzare la memoria di innocenti calpestati come pupazzi in mezzo alle pietre sgretolate dal crollo, dilaniati dai ferri di cancellate acuminate come lance macedoni, finiti a calci, poi applauditi dagli inglesi ubriachi che frugando nelle loro tasche lanciavano in aria a sfregio povere cose. Abbiamo ascoltato parole imparentate alla menzogna per non farsi più del male tra i rimorsi.
Ci restano in repertorio, giunte da quel cinema dell’orrore, le immagini di una gioia che non conobbe pudore e la matematica che ancora oggi divide gli squallidi contabili dell’almanacco. Chi stringe una coppa a sè, come fosse congruo e naturale risarcimento alle bandiere sporche di sangue, chi vorrebbe eliminarla per fare un dispetto, proprio a chi affrontò migliaia di chilometri per non vederla, mai, portata in trionfo, mentre giaceva in obitorio.
In tutto questo tempo il silenzio della dimenticanza è stato mistificato con il rispetto per le famiglie delle vittime. La memoria, beffardamente, colpevolmente, non ha trovato collocazione geografica proprio lì dove la bacheca ancora adesso urla, orfana di un segno qualunque d’amore per quei 39 respiri soffocati dall’odio e mai degnamente celebrati dalla loro stessa Madre. Dignità e vergogna, come Abele e Caino, ad inseguirsi da ventiquattro lunghi anni in questa storia scritta col sangue e con le lacrime di 39 famiglie di innocenti.
C’è ancora qualcosa che si può fare per innalzare una piccola preghiera di pace, invece di un trofeo di latta, verso il cielo, fosse anche la litania di chi non crede oltre le nuvole, ma soltanto negli uomini? Magari in quelli che verranno. In quelli che applaudiranno gli avversari a vincere… In quelli che ameranno i propri colori senza disprezzare le altrui combinazioni… Non lo so. Non lo so. Non lo so. Quello che immagino è che il dolore è dolore ed il perdono spetta solo a chi non ha mai trovato le parole, per contenerlo. Non lo so. Non lo so. Quello che possiamo fare noi oggi è soltanto trovare un luogo, delle pagine, monumenti, strade, piazze, deputati a non dimenticare. Una sala della memoria, nel nuovo stadio di Torino. Un sacrario di emozioni, al di là delle bandiere.
E’ vero. Sono caduti per la Juventus. Sono i caduti della Juventus. Allora è maturo il tempo d’incidere a fuoco quei nomi su quella coppa senza vergogna e legarla per sempre ai suoi 39 cuori. Onore e memoria sono l’unica rima possibile di questa storia dell’Heysel, da tramandare ai figli ed ai nipoti come un incubo in attesa di redenzione.
Ci sono macigni che pensi di avere sepolto in qualche angolo remoto nel mondo. Ritornano. Prima o poi. E se non ti travolgono è perchè il vento li restuituisce al tuo sincero pentimento in forma di angeli.
C’è ancora tempo, per l’amore…

Domenico Laudadio (www.saladellamemoriaheysel.it)

Questa sera, presso lo stadio Città di Meda, in Via Icmesa, alle ore 18.30 ci incontreremo per rendere omaggio ai caduti dell’Heysel davanti alla targa posta nel 2007 presso lo stadio, in cima alla tribuna centrale. Siete tutti invitati a partecipare, qualche minuto di riflessione per ricordare quei 39 fratelli bianconeri che persero la vita il 29 maggio 1985, mentre assistevano a Juventus-Liverpool, finale della Coppa dei Campioni a Bruxelles.
Dopo l’incontro, ci troveremo al Club per un aperitivo.
VI ASPETTIAMO.

Chi è iscritto alla nostra newsletter, saprà già tutti gli appuntamenti di questa settimana.
In attesa delle pagelle di Paolo, che sono a forte rischio poichè mi ha detto di non avere tempo e di non aver visto la partita, questa sera ci riuniremo come tutti i martedì a partire dalle 21 presso il Club. Le riunioni non termineranno con la fine del campionato, anzi, almeno fino ad agosto continueremo a trovarci per programmare la prossima stagione.
Questa sera sarà possibile prenotare per Juventus-Lazio, 35,00 Euro pullman+biglietto, mentre per gli Under 14 i lcosto è di 20,00 Euro, solo se accompagnati da un adulto. Vorremmo organizzare 2 pullman, quindi affrettatevi a prenotare perchè i posti sono limitati.
Venerdì 29 maggio è l’anniversario della scomparsa dei 39 tifosi juventini a Bruxelles nel 1985, allo stadio Heysel, mentre assistevano alla finale di Coppa Campioni. Nel maggio 2007 abbiamo posto una targa presso lo stadio Città di Meda, e venerdì alle 18.45 ci troveremo proprio li per commemorare le vittime. Un breve momento di riflessione aperto a tutti: speriamo di essere in tanti.
Sabato 30 maggio dalle 15 ci sarà il quadrangolare benefico di calcio “29/5/1985, alla memoria”. Si sfideranno le squadre composte da Juventus Club Meda, Viking Juventus, Nucleo 1985, Various Artist DJ. Il nostro torneo sarà preceduto dall’incontro di calcio femminile tra Meda e Juventus. Seguirà alle 20,00 una cena presso l’Agriturismo La Fattoria di Mariano Comense. Chi vuole partecipare è pregato di farcelo sapere al più presto: il costo della cena è di 30,00 Euro. Anche la cena è aperta a tutti, non solo ai soci del Club.
Domenica ultima partita di campionato, partenza alle 10.30 dal Club, stiamo organizzando il pullman o i pullman.
A stasera!

P.S.: sembra proprio arrivata l’ora di Diego: alle 13 circa l’acquisto dovrebbe essere ufficiale. Benvenuto alla Juventus!