MILAN (Reuters) – Liverpool FC’s deliberate victory parade on Sunday has stirred unease for a consultant of victims of the Heysel stadium catastrophe because it coincides with the thirty seventh anniversary of the tragedy.
Liverpool, who play Real Madrid within the Champions League remaining on Saturday, plan a celebration of their dwelling metropolis after a season by which they’ve already gained the 2 most important home cup competitions in England and completed runners-up within the Premier League.
Sunday additionally marks the anniversary of the Heysel catastrophe by which 39 supporters of Italian membership Juventus have been killed when a wall collapsed after Liverpool followers charged them earlier than the European Cup remaining in Brussels in 1985.
“Linking a Liverpool celebration to May twenty ninth is a bit jarring,” mentioned Andrea Lorentini, who’s head of the Heysel households victims’ affiliation and misplaced his father.
“Considering what their followers did that night time, in my view May twenty ninth for Liverpool needs to be a day of mea culpa and reflection, of heartfelt remembrance,” he instructed Reuters.
Liverpool FC are conscious of the difficulty and acknowledged it when which shall be held on Sunday afternoon.
“As the date of the victory parade falls on the anniversary of the Heysel Stadium catastrophe, all through the morning LFC, supported by Liverpool City Council, can pay tribute to the 39 supporters who misplaced their lives on that day,” the membership mentioned on its web site.
The parade is being held on the invitation of Liverpool City Council who wished it on a weekend. Most of Liverpool’s gamers shall be departing for worldwide responsibility by the beginning of subsequent week.
Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, who performed for Liverpool at Heysel, plan to put a wreath on the Stade de France earlier than the kickoff in Saturday’s remaining. Further floral tributes shall be laid when the squad returns from Paris.
Lorentini was aged three when his father Roberto, a physician, died on the Heysel stadium whereas he was making an attempt to assist a supporter with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Andrea’s grandfather, Otello, who was at Heysel too and survived, based the victims’ affiliation and Andrea has run it since 2015.
Andrea, who’s a sport journalist and soccer commentator for an area TV station in Tuscany, provides that the current day Liverpool FC can’t be held liable for what occurred that night time at Heysel.
He additionally understands why Liverpool followers will wish to have fun victory within the Champions League remaining.
“(But) If there was divine sporting justice, it could be higher if Real Madrid gained the cup on Saturday to keep away from this coincidence,” he added.
(Writing by Keith Weir; enhancing by Martyn Herman)
