Heysel disaster: Amid 40th anniversary ceremonies in Brussels, Turin and Liverpool, new documentary underlines human tragedy

Forty years to the day after one of the worst football disasters in Europe, a ceremony at the King Baudouin Stadium on 29 May will honour the fans who died in 1985.

The tribute in Brussels will include the laying of a wreath and the reading out of the names of the 39 victims by a supporter of the Turin football club Juventus.

Heysel Stadium (its named changed in 1993) was hosting the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus when English Liverpool supporters surged towards the Italian team’s fans an hour before the start of the match.

As supporters were pressed against a wall of the stadium, the dilapidated structure collapsed. In addition to the deaths, some 600 people were injured. The victims were principally Italian Juventus fans.

The catastrophe occurred during the dark days of football hooliganism and resulted in all English clubs being banned from playing in Europe for five years. It also paved the way, along with the tragedies in Britain at Hillsborough and Bradford, to improved security in stadiums.

Memorials in Liverpool and Turin

The Heysel disaster is recognised as something of a forgotten tragedy in Britain, probably because it occurred on foreign soil. But Liverpool Football Cup is preparing to unveil a new memorial at Anfield. Titled 'Forever Bound,’ it will feature two scarves knotted together and gently tied - symbolising the unity and solidarity between the Liverpool and Juventus clubs, the British club said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Juventus is unveiling its own memorial near their Allianz Stadium in Turin on 29 May, the anniversary of the disaster.

Belgian archive documentary

The 40th anniversary prompted Belgian filmmakers Christophe Hermans and Boris Tilquin to delve into the archives of the disaster. They scoured news reports and spoke to first-hand witnesses for their documentary Heysel 1985 - Dans l'enfer de la foule, which is being screened by RTBF on 23 May.

For the seasoned directors there was a fear that the memories of that fateful day would fade. “Heysel has often been discussed through statistics and debates, but rarely on a human level,” says Hermans.

“Boris and I wanted to give a voice to the survivors, the witnesses, the families… so that we could grasp the emotional and social significance of what happened that evening.”

Investigations following the tragedy initially focused on the behaviour of the Liverpool fans, but finally recognised that local authorities also shared some of the blame.

Did the filmmakers’ research change their own perceptions of the event? “What is striking is the degree of unpreparedness, even blindness on the part of many authorities at the time —both sporting and political,” responds Hermans.

“There were warning signs, but nothing was taken seriously. Since then, things have changed: stadiums are more secure, police management has improved. But the logic of impunity and diluted responsibility remains an issue, even today,” he points out.

Acknowledging that the tragedy was a trauma for not only Belgium, but Europe, Hermans concludes: “Fundamentally, the film speaks to our collective need for truth, justice, and remembrance — even 40 years later.”

Fictional film to be released in 2026

The deadly event at the Brussels stadium is also the subject of a film by Belgian-Romanian director Teodora Ana Mihai that will be screened in Belgian cinemas in autumn 2026. Heysel 85 uses fictional characters to recount the tragedy, centred on the story of Marie, the daughter of the mayor of Brussels, his press attaché and a journalist with Italian roots.

Heysel 1985 - Dans l'enfer de la foule (Bel 2024, 90 mins) by Christophe Hermans and Boris Tilquin. Screenings: RTBF La Une 23 May, 20.25 & La Trois 1 June, 22.20; VRT Canvas 29 May, 20.10; Arte 3 June, 22.50

Photos: ©Belga Photo Files; ©Belga Photo Files; Heysel 1985 - Dans l'enfer de la foule