New Heysel memorial unveiled at Anfield

A memorial to the victims of the Heysel Stadium disaster has been unveiled at Anfield stadium.

Thirty-nine people died and 600 people were injured before the 1985 European Cup Final in Brussels after a group of Liverpool fans at Heysel Stadium charged towards a section housing mostly Juventus supporters, resulting in the collapse of a wall.

The memorial depicts two scarves knotted together and inscribed with the names of the fans who lost their lives.

Liverpool FC said the memorial, located by the Anfield Road Stand, symbolises "unity, solidarity and a shared bond of remembrance between Liverpool and Juventus".

The new memorial replaces the original plaque located on the wall of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand and is made with Carrara marble sourced from an Italian quarry.

It was created in response to calls from fans to make the memorial more prominent and accessible and was developed in consultation with supporters and former players.

Representatives from Juventus FC attended the unveiling, which LFC chief executive officer Billy Hogan described as "a symbol of shared remembrance, of unity and the bond formed between Liverpool and Juventus".

"We are honoured to welcome our friends from Juventus to Anfield today and we stand together in solidarity and memory of the 39 supporters who tragically lost their lives at Heysel," he said.

"This is a moment for all of us to pause and reflect and to commit once again to ensuring that their memory lives on."

LFC ambassador Ian Rush, who played in the 1985 European Cup final and witnessed the events of that day, said it was a "deeply moving moment".

"It's hard to believe over 40 years have passed since Heysel, but the memory of that day never fades," he said.

"This new memorial means a great deal to all of us. The thought and respect that has gone into Forever Bound is something I'm incredibly proud of and I hope it brings comfort to those still affected by this tragedy."

The disaster on 29 May 1985 resulted in all English clubs being banned from European competitions for five years.

Blame for what happened was initially laid entirely on Liverpool fans, and 14 were later found guilty of manslaughter and jailed.

An investigation did concede that some culpability lay with the Belgian authorities, and the crumbling state of Heysel Stadium.

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