Liverpool FC has announced the creation of a new memorial at Anfield to mark the 40th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy, which occurred on May 29, 1985, before the European Cup final in Brussels. As a result of a wall collapse, preceded by riots and a charge by Liverpool supporters towards Juventus fans, 39 people lost their lives and around 600 were injured.

A unique monument

The new monument, titled Forever Bound, will depict two intertwined scarves – a symbol of unity, solidarity, and mutual respect between the two clubs, united in grief following the tragedy. The sculpture will be crafted from carefully selected materials and will include a touching inscription and the names of all 39 victims. It will replace the current memorial plaque near the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand at Anfield and will be relocated to a more prominent and accessible spot to encourage reflection.

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A tragedy not to be forgotten

Former Liverpool striker and current club ambassador Ian Rush, who played in that match, emphasized: We must never forget why this matters and why we continue to stand together in solidarity all these years later.

As part of the commemoration, Juventus also plans to unveil its own memorial to honor the victims. Following the tragedy, 14 Liverpool fans were convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to three years in prison. The investigation also pointed to failures by the police and Belgian authorities. As a consequence of the events, English clubs were banned from European competitions for five years, with Liverpool receiving a six-year ban.