by dawson99 » Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:48 pm
From sky sports.. an italian perspective
Former Juventus keeper Stefano Tacconi has spoken of his memories of the Heysel disaster, as the Italian giants prepare to face Liverpool for the first time since the tragedy.
The 1985 European Cup final witnessed the death of 39 people as a Liverpool fans' charge precipitated the collapse of a wall in the Brussels stadium.
Now, 20 years on from one of the darkest days in European football, a twist of fate saw the two teams pitted against each other in the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Representatives from both clubs have already indicated a willingness to mark the occasion with some kind of memorial, and Tacconi has now recounted his own experiences of the disaster.
"We knew that some people had died before entering the pitch as the injured were recovered into the dressing room and they told us what happened," Tacconi told Eurocalcio.
"Uefa had decided to cancel the game and we were having a shower before going home, when the Belgian police dropped in and ordered us to play, as they needed time for the reinforcements to come."
Tacconi also refuted accusations that the match result was fixed in a bid to try and placate Italian supporters following the events before kick-off.
The Bianconeri won the tie thanks to a disputed Michel Platini penalty, and following the tragedy English clubs were excluded from European competition for five years.
"The game was decided by a penalty that should not have been allowed, but that was simply a mistake by the referee, who was very far from the action," Tacconi continued.
"Maybe the linesman could help him, but he refused to take a decision about it, it's always been like that in football."
Tacconi also explained why Juventus celebrated the win, actions that drew criticism from both the media and the victims' families, and insisted that the events of the night had a profound impact on all involved.
"When we came out of the dressing room we were in a sort of trance.
"We knew what had happened, but still the people were waving flags on the terraces.
"It was living in a dream and we only realised the truth after the final whistle, it was a true game indeed but the consequences hit us all.
"My friend Michel Platini that very night decided that he was quitting the game, though he did it only two years later, at only 32."
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