These trips were a chance to escape the bleakness of everyday life. They will be in key locations around the city as well as at the stadium, but they will only be present in an advisory capacity for their Italian counterparts. The failure to win the European Cup on their own ground had a lasting effect on Roma and their fans. This was different. Everyone was shaken, and the result of the game was almost forgotten. "I wanted to test their anger," the Liverpool captain said. It seemed like overkill. The Stadio Olimpico was the setting for my first European trip with Liverpool. In 1976, it was Bruges; in 1977, it was Rome; in 1978, it was Hamburg and Wembley, this list goes on. It was a relief to get back to the coach. Even the official delegation sent in advance of the Red Army, and led by Liverpool City councilor Jimmy Hackett, surprised the Mayor of Rome by bursting into an impromptu rendition of the Kop anthem, Youll Never Walk Alone, at a reception in his Grand Parlour.

The short walk from the turnstiles to the coaches was a battlefield. Pic: PA Images. For Liverpool, the ramifications were even uglier. Ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semifinal, meet some of Liverpool's most passionate supporters in Egypt. Often, in the era of widespread hooliganism, and the days before mobile phones, wild rumours about violence spread rapidly. At Friday's meeting Rome Police were adamant that they had sufficient resources to cope with around 1,000 officers on duty. For example, hanging banners and flags on places of historical importance is viewed as being offensive in Italy, while it's an offence to congregate on the city's Spanish Steps. They set fire to rubbish in barrel-like metal bins and rolled them down at us. We both felt we owed him our lives., In the coaches young children and teenagers sobbed in their parents arms as blood-splattered passengers limped onto their transport. This was May 1984. Another friend, who had an Italian father, travelled to the game with his cousins from Turin.

Neighbours Everton were FA Cup and FA Youth Cup winners, so Merseyside had rightly staked its claim to not only be football capital of England, but of Europe too. Stadium Guide: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Paulo Dybala: Rooted in Poland, made in Argentina, polished in Italy, A vanished dream: the story behind Paolo Maldinis bitter Milan farewell, Napolis greatest XI of the Diego Maradona era without Maradona, The Greatest Napoli Shirts of the Maradona Years, Diego Maradona, Moscow, Lenin and the beginning of the end, Avanti ragazzi: Why Lazio supporters chant about the Hungarian revolution. This level of fury continued through the night as those staying in central Rome faced a terrifying journey back to their hotels. And as fate would have it, they met an Italian side, Juventus. Liverpool players never forgot the lesson they learnt when playing Dynamo Tbilso. Il Messagero claimed to have evidence of a premeditated campaign to hunt down the English and added: The gravest aspect is that the English did nothing to provoke the violence. At the airport, we were packed into coaches by sullen armed police who were present in huge numbers.

Blood Red - James Pearce remembers his first away trip with Liverpool - and hopes that fans in 2018 aren't subjected to a similar experience, Follow the latest transfer news and more with our LFC newsletter. Lee Lomax, Merseyside Police's dedicated football officer, who has been on all those trips, told the ECHO that the behaviour of Liverpool supporters in Europe this season has been impeccable. "Then Graeme Souness led us over to the Curva Sud and looked them in the eye.". The details of the game in 1984 are simple. Your email address will not be published. At four in the morning on the day of the game, a gang of rowdy fans invaded the Liverpool players hotel, making a frightful racket and waking everyone. Police fired tear gas in their clashes with the Ultras that followed. Peter Robinson was angry and emphatic. This was not an unusual event. For some it was a near thing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A year later, they played Juventus in the 1985 European Cup final in Brussels. In fact, it had become a regular ritual, such was Liverpool FCs prowess in European Football. It was the most unnerving atmosphere I have seen. It's been a depressingly familiar story when English teams have gone back to the Italian capital since 2001. Only the prompt action of another officer saved his dad's life. What in the name of diplomacy does the average football player do with a bunch of flowers on a football pitch? Liverpool were already League Champions and Milk Cup winners back home, where their reserve side had taken the Central League title. A nun arrived and began praying. The Roma captain had come through the team's youth system and was considered to be the representative of the Curva Sud on the pitch. It seemed as though the entire region had been decorated in the club's deep red and yellow colours. When they returned to the car park after the match, the Volkswagen's owner had ripped the bonnet from the vehicle, hurled it to the ground and was stomping on the metal hood. 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By the morning, he was alone. The events 34 years ago had a deep impact on the psyche of both clubs and their supporters, and the violence by a few Roma ultras in the street behind the Kop before last Tuesday's first leg shows the level of hatred that has been handed down to generations. Liverpool fans we met told similar stories. He stayed a week in a Rome hospital before being allowed to come home. The club won their first European Cup there, in 1977, when more than 25,000 supporters made the journey to the Italian capital.

When travelling Kopites towards that side complained about their treatment the police responded by baton charging them. Tension before a European Cup game can take several forms, extends well beyond the stadium and affects players as well as fans. Locals have elevated stabbing rival supporters in the buttocks to a cultural symbol. Goal O The Times: Diego Maradona vs. Brescia (1986), Azzurri: The story behind Italys nickname and colours. Some Liverpool fans found sanctuary in Laziali bars, while others were relieved to board the late-night-special trains that took them north to Turin, where connections to France were waiting. Pre-match souvenirs were full of stories of fans exchanging favours and smiling in anticipation of a good contest. Some Ultra groups were also preparing for the arrival of the Liverpool fans. If things went wrong we could find Liverpool winning the European Cup yet banned from playing in it again next season. They claim that they can't punish Roma for attacks which take place away from the stadium. Meanwhile, at the Ponte Duca D'Aosta, there were numerous stabbings. Required fields are marked *. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. It wasnt a classic match but it was a hard fought one. None of the doctors or nurses spoke English; the schoolboy sat and watched as the wounded were treated and the patients thinned out. Liverpool Outgoings With Spots Up For Grabs: The Anfield Wrap, Neil Atkinson hosts Ian Ryan, Fuad Hasan and Kieran Molyneux. The flames, smoke and acrid smell gave the night an apocalyptic feel. When things got really ugly, they tried to break up the clashes with tear gas. There was little thought of revenge, but the mindset was one of suspicion.

They backed off quickly into the darkness. It was a lucky escape. In 2009 an Arsenal fan was stabbed when a bus full of supporters was ambushed by Roma fans. Firsthand tales of stabbings and beatings were too common to ignore. "It was frightening how much those fans wanted Roma to win the match. Yet once clear of the police cordon around the stadium they were set upon by the Romanisti armed with broken bottles, sharpened sticks and lethal knives. Their soft-topped roofs were pulled back and youths stood up in the passenger seats and hurled bottles and stones and fired flares at our transport, making throat-cutting gestures after their throws. The UFC returns to the UK this weekend after the brilliant event in March and the likes of Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann are on the bill again. Roma were effectively playing the final at home, and Liverpool supporters experienced a different kind of welcome. Unfortunatley British fans are acquiring a bad reputation abroad, he explained, and the Italians are extremely volatile We are certain our supporters will not let us down and we want to ensure they have an enjoyable visit.. Fans around me were struck and bloodied. Heading into this week's clash, he shares his memories of a violent day before and after the match itself. Liverpool's Michael Owen celebrates scoring the second goal of the game against Roma, Merseyside Police praise 'respectful' Liverpool fans as club hold 'positive' meeting with Roma, Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco sends message of support to Liverpool fan Sean Cox, Jurgen Klopp sends classy message to Liverpool fan Sean Cox - and makes Roma plea, Darwin Nunez just learned truth about Liverpool squad right before his first goal, Darwin Nunez announces his Liverpool arrival with four goals in 5-0 win against RB Leipzig in pre-season friendly, Liverpool analysis - Darwin Nunez faces big challenge as dangerous partnership is reunited, Liverpool talking points from Ian Doyle after 5-0 win against RB Leipzig with stunning display from Darwin Nunez, 'We are not close' - Jurgen Klopp sends blunt warning to Liverpool squad ahead of next test, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was speaking after his side's 5-0 win over RB Leipzig in pre-season, Liverpool make 45m Matheus Nunes transfer their 'priority', A report from Portugal claims Liverpool will begin 'formal negotiations' with Sporting CP over the transfer of midfielder Matheus Nunes, Midfielder left in tears after 18m Liverpool transfer he begged for collapsed, Liverpool flew their top brass to the Ukraine to capture Yevhen Konoplyanka in 2014, but to the player's dismay, they left without him, Everton tipped to make 'bargain' transfer move for Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe, The latest transfer speculation sees Everton being backed to make a move for Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe, UFC London 2022 tickets, time, TV channel, live stream and card in full. MMA star and Reds fan Paddy 'the Baddy' Pimblett has regularly spoken of his desire to fight at Anfield. They were, however, able to get their revenge when Tbilsi played Hamburg. But, after public pleas from both clubs hierarchies for peace, there was a feeling that as long as the visitors didnt cause any trouble and took their upcoming defeat in good spirits, there would be no drama. But then the unthinkable happened: Liverpool won. Pic: PA Images. Meanwhile, the British were counting the cost of the attacks. The revelry often turned riotous, and even before that 1984 match, it felt as though the Eternal City was already celebrating another glorious victory. Liverpool fans had grown used to running the gauntlet after European away games, but this was something else. We could sense trouble brewing, he said, and we have an assurance that in future the final will not be played at the stadium of either finalist nor in the same city, nor even in the host country..

For a 10-year period between 1975 and 1985, Liverpool fans took over the plazas of countless European cities and decorated them in the colours of their team.

A road overlooked the sloping exit to the ground, and mobs of Roma fans had stationed themselves on the higher ground. European Cup night in Rome. Local gangs responded by relocating to the city centre where they could pick off rival fans making their way back to hotels. It was 90 minutes before the European Cup final. It was remembered as a joyous occasion. But Liverpool fans considered themselves and were considered by others to be something else. A year to the day after the rumble in Rome, Liverpool did indeed reach the European Cup final again. READ: Heysel 30 Years: An Eyewitness Account Of May 29, 1985 In Brussels. READ: Heysel 30 Years: What About Justice For The 39? And since the Heysel battleground incident with Juventus is mentioned, why not elabotrate on what these Liverpudian gentlemen did that day,. It was raining coins, golf balls and stones throughout.

It is unlikely that the second leg of the semifinal will see anything like the violence of 1984 -- though the Reds' visit in 2001 saw six fans hospitalised for stab and slash wounds, and five Man United fans suffered a similar fate in 2007 -- but anyone travelling to the Italian capital for the match needs to be very, very careful. Lacazette a doubt after wasp woe, Sit down, Nigeria Banyana Banyana are the best women's team in Africa now, Arsenal's Cedric talks to ESPN about top four, Vieira and fighting for his place, Ten Hag backs Maguire to beat his critics, Brazil's Dani Alves to join Liga MX side Pumas, Germany find a way as unlucky Austria's Euro run ends with the sound of woodwork, Ten Hag: No special treatment for Van de Beek, Sources: Man United rule out Martial exit, Mane wins African Footballer of Year again, Barcelona sell further 15% of TV rights to firm, Women's Euro 2022 bracket and fixtures schedule, Germany beat Austria, advance to Euro semis, Leverkusen process heartbreak by clinging to promise of tomorrow. Your email address will not be published. It was clear we weren't welcome at Roma's party. It is supposed to have derived from medieval dueling with swords, and it happens on or around the D'Aosta bridge. They hesitated, then one of them, a young law student, helped us both in and took us away from danger. There were also loads of incidents in the CWC SF that year in Turin, with the Mancs being run all over the place. At the hospital, Ian Sharp sat among bleeding Scousers and waited for news of his father. TAW Live In Singapore: Pre-Season 2022 Special. It was February 15 2001 and Michael Owen scored twice as the Reds took control of their UEFA Cup last 16 tie with a 2-0 first-leg win over Roma.

We both faced up to them and shouted, calling other friends from the bus. You could see the thin, stiletto knives in their hands, and a stampede broke out to escape the terror. There were unkempt bushes beside the road, and I ventured in to find a private place. On Merseyside, preparations were underway. Think both that and the Rome final were precursors to what happened a year later. "It was the most intimidating sight I've seen in my life," said centre-back Alan Hansen, describing walking out on the pitch before the match. I have a picture from that night of myself, my brothers and friends, taken on the Curva Nord. A photographer takes pictures of the flares which Roma fans had thrown from the stands.

Given the build up before the game, it was surprising that until then things had gone so smoothly. MAY 30, 1984. Certainly before the game there was little hint of trouble an understandable tenseness in the air, but the overall spirit was one of friendliness and anticipation. The fear is that the Italian police are getting their excuses in early so that if there are flashpoints next week then they will be able to point the finger at the visitors and say 'we did warn you'. For many Italians, this was a looting, a smash and grab, a theft from their doorstep and it could not go unpunished. It wasn't. You can unsubscribe at any time. Extract from Heysel: A European Tragedy an unpublished book finished in 1989 written by Sir Harry Livermore a former Lord Mayor of Liverpool whose law firm Silverman Livermore represented 16 of the accused in the Heysel trial and David Stuckey, a journalist at the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo. The decent people of Liverpool feel the hurt and shame But we cant change it now Lets all move on. What have UEFA done about it?

Cossetted and chaperoned everywhere by a discreet police presence, Liverpool fans managed to win friends. READ: Heysel 30 Years: Why Did No-One See It Coming? This was repeated over and over again. The hostile mood played a significant part in a chain of events that led to the deaths of 39 people at Heysel Stadium in Brussels. Events within the stadium had passed without incident and thats all that mattered. The record of British fans abroad was not good. Anybody who has been following football knows that this is not the simple truth of the matter. Yet, when the Scouse army arrived most Italians were delighted to find them happy, smiling and on the whole law abiding. The anger and frustration of the Italians provoked a response from some Liverpudlians and a bridge over the Tiber became the scene of a pitched battle. One man was stabbed with a stiletto that narrowly missed his lungs. I know what I was thinking: "Now we have to go outside.". Merseyside Police will have a five-strong delegation in Rome headed by chief superintendent Dave Charnock.

But these trips were about more than just away games, they were about a subculture that had been born out of a city in decline. READ: Heysel 30 Years: The Barbarians are Coming. A mate said he'd come with me, and it was just as well: Not long after, my friend hissed a warning. It was mayhem. An alcohol ban across the city will also be in force. So, with no travel arrangements to make, they set about planning how they were going to celebrate on the streets of the Eternal City. AS Roma supporters had taken their places inside the stadium hours earlier, and in the eye of the hurricane, it was momentarily calm. The 39-year-old had suffered from depression and had financial problems, but the timing of his suicide was no coincidence to the Roma ultras. In fact, in the hours before the match, rivals fans could be seen sharing drinks and having kickabouts in the plazas and parks around the city. After their experience with Roma's hardcore fans 12 months earlier, Scousers were determined not to suffer in a similar manner. George Sharp, a Halewood paint shop worker from Fords Liverpool factory, was the worst affected. Ten other supporters were treated for minor injuries after they were attacked in a bar by a gang wearing masks. But things had changed in the intervening seven years. Italian police turned a blind eye. The governing body declared that they were deeply shocked by the sickening assault on Reds fan Sean Cox outside Anfield on Tuesday night, but the fact is that it's just the latest horrendous chapter involving a minority of supporters from the Serie A outfit intent on wreaking havoc. The players felt it, too. They could almost always be ignored. Several Roman bars ran out of beer that weekend as certain battalions of the Red Army seemed hell bent on drinking the Eternal City dry. Unbearably tense, it served to shatter the faade of friendship in certain sectors and rivalry and resentment overtook civility and friendship. A few months earlier Spurs fans had cast the latest cloud across the international soccer scene by going on the rampage in Brussels. ", "Terrifying," defender Steve Nicol said. The game was good, hard fought but fair. Maradona and Baggio: Serie A genius that transcended narrative. READ: Heysel 30 Years: The Story Behind The Story. It didn't last long. Police made three arrests after being called to a "disturbance". Before they went, they piled their European Cup banners and scarfs on the terraces and set them alight.