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From: nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken)
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: Re: British Soccer Teams Banned!
Message-ID: <666@abnji.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Jun-85 08:40:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: abnji.666
Posted: Mon Jun  3 08:40:07 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 4-Jun-85 06:10:40 EDT
References: <1044@ihuxb.UUCP>
Organization: Terminus Hospital, Incorporated
Lines: 66

>Reports are that soccer teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
>Ireland will be banned from European soccer as part of the aftermath of 
>the Belgium riot caused by British hooligans.
>The ban is a good start!

Only English teams have been banned.  With the exception of Celtic,
Scottish teams in Europe have had an exceptionally good record in recent
years.  Aberdeen supporters frequently receive very nice comments about
their politeness abroad.

Hooliganism is a major problem in European football, not just English
football.  In a recent trip to Amsterdam, I arrived at Amsterdam Zuid
train station while Feyeenoord supporters were returning to Rotterdam.
In order to get out of the station, I had to be escorted by Dutch riot
police.  (Ajax and Feyeenoord in Holland may now have the worst repu-
tation in Europe.)  Look at riots surrounding recent Spanish matches.

The big problem is that the English clubs tend to export trouble.  In
the last year both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have been
fined due to the activities of supporters.  Baiting English supporters
now seems to be a frequent happening when English teams go abroad.

What appalls me about Brussels is that I suspect only the English will
be punished (quite severely).  Although they do share the blame, so
do the Belgians and the Italians.  Why were tickets sold on the day of
the match (In violation of an agreement by European sports ministers)?
Where were the police when the riot started?  (Ans:  outside Heysel
Stadium)  Why were Juventus supporters allowed to bring aggressive
banners into the match?  Why were Juventus supporters allowed to bring
firearms into the match?  (Recent evidence indicates that shots were
fired at the police by Juventus supporters after the match began.  In
addition, many Juventus supporters took up Liverpool colours and made
trouble during the match in order to get Liverpool into trouble.)

From what I have gathered the course of events was as follows:

1.  Liverpool supporters were sold tickets in the Juventus enclosure on
the day of the match.  (Fault:  Belgian authorities for selling the
tickets,  Liverpool supporters without tickets for going to the match
to create the demand.)

2.  Liverpool supporters in th eJuventus end were attacked.  (Juventus)

3.  Fights continued, as there were no police to break them up.  (Belgium)

4.  Liverpool hooligans, seeing the opportunity to fight, surge towards
the Juventus enclosure.  (Liverpool)

5.  The fence collapses, Liverpool hooligans attack Juventus hooligans.
(Belgium, for providing inadequate segregation)

6.  As Liverpool hooligans surge into the Juventus enclosure, the far
wall collapses, which resulted in the majority of the deaths.  (All,
based on previous events)

7.  As the match begins Juventus supporters in Liverpool colours bait
the authorities (Juventus).

Belgium have already absolved themselves of any blame.  The head of UEFA
(The governing body of European football) is Italian.  You tell me how
blame will be apportioned.
-- 
James C Armstrong, Jnr.   ihnp4!abnji!nyssa

The Boss gave me one of these, ten seconds, he said.  Let's see
if it works...