Heysel commemorated in Brussels

Juventus Museum president Paolo Garimberti and Sustainability and External Relations Manager Virginia Antonini were in attendance with a club pendant for the 31st anniversary service of the Heysel Stadium tragedy in Brussels today.  

The event, backed by the European Parliament and support associations “Heysel Victims” (chaired by Andrea Lorentini) and “Quelli di Via Filadelfia”, was held once more before row Z of the now-named Stade Roi-Baudouin in honour of the 39 victims who lost their lives before the commencement of the 1985 European Cup final.

European Parliament vice-president Antonio Tajani, the honourable Alberto Cirio and the Sports Minister for the city of Brussels Alain Courtois were also present in the Belgian capital.

The day’s proceedings began with a round-table meeting on the theme of “Stadium security: learning from the Heysel tragedy to guarantee the future safety of players and fans alike,” while another seminar entitled, “Remembrance day for the victims of Heysel and all forms of sporting violence” will be held in Turin on Friday evening.

For the date’s 30th anniversary, Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini symbolically presented a number 39 jersey on behalf of the Italian Football Association on the eve of the country’s international friendly against Belgium which itself was halted in the 39th minute in commemoration.

Last month, Paolo Garimberti attended the inauguration of a new monument in Cherasco with the inscription, “Nessuno muore veramente se vive nel cuore di chi resta, per sempre“ (No one truly dies when they live on in the hearts of those that remain. Forever.”), a further wish that nothing of the sort should ever occur again in the world of sport.