News Analysis: 30 years after Heysel tragedy, has hooliganism in football gone?

Belgium on Friday paid tribute to the 39 victims who died on May 29, 1985 during the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool at the Heysel Stadium here.

It was at this stadium, 30 years to the day, during the final of the European Cup between the two best football teams in Europe at the time, that the sporting event turned into a tragedy when nearly 200 English hooligans, under the influence of alcohol, scaled the single fence separating the English and Italian fans, and pushed Italian supporters against the closed gates of the stadium.

Dozens of people were then trampled and suffocated. Among the 39 dead: 32 Italians, four Belgians, two French and one Irish besides more than 450 injured.

SOLEMN COMMEMMORATION

In the presence of more than 60,000 people and in a very tense atmosphere, the referee then decided to still play the game, while consequences of the drama that began more than an hour before the game became known.

Juventus eventually won the game 1-0 following a penalty scored by Michel Platini.

On Friday morning, a ceremony was held at the stadium since renamed the King Baudouin Stadium in an attempt to erase the tragic memory.

The ambassadors of Italy and Britain unveiled commemorative plaque in the presence of fans and many gathered foreign journalists.

The names of the 39 victims were read out. The many people present, including families of the victims, then observed a minute's silence before the release of commemorative balloons.

Michel Platini, UEFA president, said his thoughts went to the 39 victims of the Heysel tragedy. In a statement, the head of European football indicated his "unwavering commitment to do everything in my power to prevent such a tragedy from happening again."

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

What are the measures that were taken after one of the worst tragedies in the history of European football, and what is the situation today?

In England, the government of Margaret Thatcher declared war on hooliganism. At a European level, UEFA banned English clubs from competing in the European Cups for six years. Increased security measures for important games were imposed.

In Belgium, measures have been taken gradually. Stadia have been renovated with surveillance cameras and security fences installed. Troublemakers are banned. Stewards are recruited to welcome the fans.

This is a result of the "football law" adopted in 2007. Legal measures were also taken in France and Italy. But the problem of violence in the world of football has not been resolved.

According to Manu Cameron, director of the non-profit, fan-coaching ULg (University of Liege), quoted in the daily La Libre Belgique: "In 2014, the number of decisions taken under this law strongly increased.

The Ministry of Interior cites 8,431 stadium bans against 7,108 in 2013 and 5,984 in 2012."

Many stadiums were renovated in Belgium and in several European countries. "Fan-coaching," a support system was also launched in the 2000s, and "spotters," plainclothes police, are responsible for mediating between hooligans and police.

In Belgium, law enforcement measures have cost some 6 million euros (6.59 million U.S. dollars) for just for the 2013-2014 season.

ABUSE REMAINS

But hooligans fit in. They become unrecognizable by their physical appearance. Therefore, they are branded "casual" because they are dressed as mere supporters.

According to sociologist Manu Cameron, hooligans have changed their profile. The internet has enabled the rapid spread of violence.

"We are witnessing a phenomenon of globalization," he said in La Libre Belgique. For five years, there has been new acts of hooliganism, but this time outside the stadiums and not inside.

Hooliganism is now linked to nationalist movements. "In Italy, France or Spain, hooliganism is often the result of very marked right-wing splinter groups such as with Real Madrid or PSG or very left-wing groups, such as Coruna in northern Spain."

This is particularly the case in some countries of Eastern Europe, where hooligans and ultra-violent supporters are linked to far-right groups. This is the case in Russia, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine and the territory of the former East Germany.

One can not help thinking of the "BBB", the Bad Blue Boys, a group of ultra supporters of the Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb considered the most violent faction of European Ultras.

Those which are designated as the "ultras" are present at both AC Milan and Lazio in Rome, where we saw the banners for Arkan, the Serbian war criminal, and former president of the supporters club of Red Star Belgrade, which gave its name to the "Tigers", a paramilitary militia. In Lazio, it is not uncommon to see banners referring to the Auschwitz concentration camp.

In terms of football violence, the reputation of some Russian clubs is more extreme.

Despite efforts by many governments, it seems that football violence is difficult to eradicate. Endit