‘Justice for Heysel’

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macheda14

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So it’s 35 years since the terrible tragedy at Heysel. A terrible night and RIP to those who died. However, that’s not the reason for this post. (Although obviously this thread can evolve into discussing Heysel in general). More from my short time as a season ticket holder (3 years) I remember ‘justice for Heysel’ being song from time to time. Honestly I find the chant disgusting. Whatever your views on the disaster, the chant isn’t sung really with justice in mind. It’s sung using those who died as a tool for one-upmanship over Liverpool fans. Which frankly is quite disgusting, using people’s tragic deaths for our gain. It is a chant that grows quite a loud voice when sung and isn’t unique to a few bad apples.
 

macheda14

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Good chat. But like do you think it’s a good chant? Are you happy we sing it? Do you think we should make an effort to stop? Or do you not care?

A lot of fans like to put themselves above those that sing disgraceful Munich and Hillsborough chants, but there are a fair few that go under the radar.
 

Pav1878

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To be fair those lyrics do sum them up quite well.

I think it says it all when Juventus fans turn their backs on them when they play
 

arnie_ni

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No it’s ‘justice for heysel’
So they chant "justice for heysel, justice for heysel" over and over?

Not sure whats wrong with that. Happy to be corrected.

Going a bit further, always wonder why this doesnt get the same, hmm not sure what the word is, I'll go with attention, that Hillsborough gets.

Has anyone an explanation without getting into a liverpool fans pissing match? Its a genuine question
 

Gopher Brown

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A large proportion of football fans are dicks, regardless of allegiance. All you can do is not join in if you hear it.
 

Offsideagain

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Most chants are humorous these days and I hope that we don’t sink to level of City fans and their Munich chant which just shows their ignorance as Frank Swift, ex City keeper died in the tragedy. The Hillsborough incident was horrific as was the fire at Bradford and the crowd rush at Rangers disaster. The point people are making is that Liverpool fans have been involved in other incidents such as Heysel, and the Istanbul CL final when fans without tickets charged the turnstiles injuring their own fans to get in to watch a dodgy AC Milan side that were involved in a match fixing scandal around that time. The genuine Liverpool fans are ashamed of the behaviour at Heysel but there are those that dismiss that and Istanbul almost as a joke which in turn gets a response.
Chants will always exist as long as there are fans and football and it’s up to each fan to decide if they are in good or bad taste. I always like ‘ He’s short, he’s fat, he’s a f’ing twat Sammy Lee Sammy Lee’.
 

macheda14

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So they chant "justice for heysel, justice for heysel" over and over?

Not sure whats wrong with that. Happy to be corrected.

Going a bit further, always wonder why this doesnt get the same, hmm not sure what the word is, I'll go with attention, that Hillsborough gets.

Has anyone an explanation without getting into a liverpool fans pissing match? Its a genuine question
It does, but not as much in England, because the English press will obviously report more on when the government vilified football fans after 96 English fans died. I’m sure Heysel gets more attention in Italy.

My issue with the chant is that it’s using the deaths of football fans for political capital, for want of a better term.
 

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I’m relatively regular in attendance at OT and I can’t think of a Heysel song being sung, not one that directly mentions Heysel.

TBH I know it was awful, truly awful but it’s like it’s front page news a couple of times a year (every year!)

Like I say I know it was tragic and I mean no offence but worse things happen all the time almost every day across the world. I know it sounds harsh and I don’t mean it to but it just never seems to be consigned to history, obviously the ongoing court battles make that difficult I suppose.
 

Falcow

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It does, but not as much in England, because the English press will obviously report more on when the government vilified football fans after 96 English fans died. I’m sure Heysel gets more attention in Italy.

My issue with the chant is that it’s using the deaths of football fans for political capital, for want of a better term.
I get what you are saying and I agree that using the deaths of the victims for point scoring is wrong.

If i am being honest however there is a part of me that wants those exact liverpool fans involved whose actions were responsible for the deaths (manslaughter, they were found guilty in court and served very lenient sentences) of close to 40 football fans to be reminded about it from time to time. I think you are expecting too much if you are asking non liverpool fans to forgive and forget.
 

TheReligion

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RIP to those that lost their lives.

Amazed to see no condolences from any of our resident LFC fans given how this tragedy unfolded. All to busy posting in the PL thread about their precious title.
 

Denis' cuff

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So it’s 35 years since the terrible tragedy at Heysel. A terrible night and RIP to those who died. However, that’s not the reason for this post. (Although obviously this thread can evolve into discussing Heysel in general). More from my short time as a season ticket holder (3 years) I remember ‘justice for Heysel’ being song from time to time. Honestly I find the chant disgusting. Whatever your views on the disaster, the chant isn’t sung really with justice in mind. It’s sung using those who died as a tool for one-upmanship over Liverpool fans. Which frankly is quite disgusting, using people’s tragic deaths for our gain. It is a chant that grows quite a loud voice when sung and isn’t unique to a few bad apples.
odd that you should bring it up as you are so disgusted by it.

it is in rather poor taste but you can understand the sentiment.
 

Tel074

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So it’s 35 years since the terrible tragedy at Heysel. A terrible night and RIP to those who died. However, that’s not the reason for this post. (Although obviously this thread can evolve into discussing Heysel in general). More from my short time as a season ticket holder (3 years) I remember ‘justice for Heysel’ being song from time to time. Honestly I find the chant disgusting. Whatever your views on the disaster, the chant isn’t sung really with justice in mind. It’s sung using those who died as a tool for one-upmanship over Liverpool fans. Which frankly is quite disgusting, using people’s tragic deaths for our gain. It is a chant that grows quite a loud voice when sung and isn’t unique to a few bad apples.

I've been a season ticket holder for over 20 years and I don't recall any direct songs regarding Heysel . You really must be bored on furlough if this is the subject you have decided to post about today .
 

macheda14

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I've been a season ticket holder for over 20 years and I don't recall any direct songs regarding Heysel . You really must be bored on furlough if this is the subject you have decided to post about today .
I’d heard it every Liverpool match (during and since I had season ticket) sung in voice in the Stratford end. Listen out for it when we finally get to play them in front of a crowd again at OT.
And firstly, it makes sense today because it’s the anniversary, but secondly, I always assumed forums were the place you could voice an opinion on something related to the nature of said forum.
 

Maluco

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This is a sensitive topic. Everyone that dies at a football game deserves justice and to be remembered, but I do think Heysel is overlooked and there is almost a sobering silence about it.

It’s a strange contrast when you see how well Hillsborough has been kept in the spotlight (and rightfully so).

Football was building to a Heysel for a long time. It’s hard to understand why nothing was done about it before it happened. Had the ban happened beforehand, maybe those people would still be here with us.

RIP to them and prayers to all of the families involved.
 
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RIP to those that lost their lives.

Amazed to see no condolences from any of our resident LFC fans given how this tragedy unfolded. All to busy posting in the PL thread about their precious title.
I'm sorry but this reminds me of when people are amazed that Muslims don't come out and give their condolences for a terrorist attack.

I'm positive that Liverpool fans have given condolences for this over many a year. And at the same time these same fans should not be made to feel as though they themselves are somehow responsible for these deaths.

"Houlier than though" attitudes stink in football.

Forgot to add (and it goes without saying) RIP to the lives lost that terrible day.
 

Tel074

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I’d heard it every Liverpool match (during and since I had season ticket) sung in voice in the Stratford end. Listen out for it when we finally get to play them in front of a crowd again at OT.
And firstly, it makes sense today because it’s the anniversary, but secondly, I always assumed forums were the place you could voice an opinion on something related to the nature of said forum.

So what is the song ? Also I have strong views on Heysel because my wife is Italian and her family are life long Juve fans and I'd support a song keeping Heysel alive because the Scousers have firmly swept that under their carpet
 

macheda14

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So what is the song ? Also I have strong views on Heysel because my wife is Italian and her family are life long Juve fans and I'd support a song keeping Heysel alive because the Scousers have firmly swept that under their carpet
It’s just ‘justice for Heysel’ sung on repeat to the same tune as ‘champions of England’.

But it doesn’t ‘keep it alive’. It’s sung in the ground solely on derby days, not in honour of those who lost their lives, but as a way to demean Liverpool fans. I’d wager very few, if any, fans singing it had any strong feelings about it beyond a sense of one-upsmanship. If they did surely you would see more reference to it on days like yesterday which was an anniversary of the tragic event.
 

Klopper76

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RIP to those that lost their lives.

Amazed to see no condolences from any of our resident LFC fans given how this tragedy unfolded. All to busy posting in the PL thread about their precious title.
What a stupid thing to post. I literally just saw this thread and was reading through it.

Heysel is a man made tragedy just like Hillsborough was. Am I supposed to feel like I’m somehow responsible for what those monsters did?

May those who died RIP.
 

Klopper76

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I'm sorry but this reminds me of when people are amazed that Muslims don't come out and give their condolences for a terrorist attack.

I'm positive that Liverpool fans have given condolences for this over many a year. And at the same time these same fans should not be made to feel as though they themselves are somehow responsible for these deaths.

"Houlier than though" attitudes stink in football.

Forgot to add (and it goes without saying) RIP to the lives lost that terrible day.
Well said.
 

dumbo

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So they chant "justice for heysel, justice for heysel" over and over?

Not sure whats wrong with that. Happy to be corrected.

Going a bit further, always wonder why this doesnt get the same, hmm not sure what the word is, I'll go with attention, that Hillsborough gets.

Has anyone an explanation without getting into a liverpool fans pissing match? Its a genuine question
It's partly to do with locality. Also justice for Hillsborough is about the deaths but also about corruption within British institutions the press, the police, the Tory party, that conspired to cover up the truth and spread deliberate falsehoods that vilified a community.
 

MrPooni

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So it’s 35 years since the terrible tragedy at Heysel. A terrible night and RIP to those who died. However, that’s not the reason for this post. (Although obviously this thread can evolve into discussing Heysel in general). More from my short time as a season ticket holder (3 years) I remember ‘justice for Heysel’ being song from time to time. Honestly I find the chant disgusting. Whatever your views on the disaster, the chant isn’t sung really with justice in mind. It’s sung using those who died as a tool for one-upmanship over Liverpool fans. Which frankly is quite disgusting, using people’s tragic deaths for our gain. It is a chant that grows quite a loud voice when sung and isn’t unique to a few bad apples.
Reads more like a hollow attempt to weaponise a tragedy than a genuine call for justice but that's just me.
 

njred

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Amazed to see no condolences from any of our resident LFC fans given how this tragedy unfolded. All to busy posting in the PL thread about their precious title.
I think you’re way out of line taking supporters to task who might not have any knowledge or even been alive. Pretty low shot coming from you. Liken it to a Trump tweet.
 

duffer

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I've only heard " justice for the 39" sung.

Always seemed like a mean spirited dig from a rival rather than a call for justice but I could be wrong.

Do Juve fans sing it (or something similar)? Not sure how they feel about their darkest moment being used like this by another club.
 

duffer

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RIP to those that lost their lives.

Amazed to see no condolences from any of our resident LFC fans given how this tragedy unfolded. All to busy posting in the PL thread about their precious title.
This forum and thread isn't the place for that. Go to RAWK or a Juve forum, you'll find plenty there.
 

hobbers

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I have literally never heard this chant sung.


Off topic but always the victim is a fine chant because of how bloody accurate it is.
 

TheReligion

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I'm sorry but this reminds me of when people are amazed that Muslims don't come out and give their condolences for a terrorist attack.

I'm positive that Liverpool fans have given condolences for this over many a year. And at the same time these same fans should not be made to feel as though they themselves are somehow responsible for these deaths.

"Houlier than though" attitudes stink in football.

Forgot to add (and it goes without saying) RIP to the lives lost that terrible day.
What a stupid thing to post. I literally just saw this thread and was reading through it.

Heysel is a man made tragedy just like Hillsborough was. Am I supposed to feel like I’m somehow responsible for what those monsters did?

May those who died RIP.
I think you’re way out of line taking supporters to task who might not have any knowledge or even been alive. Pretty low shot coming from you. Liken it to a Trump tweet.
This forum and thread isn't the place for that. Go to RAWK or a Juve forum, you'll find plenty there.
You might not like what I said but I was actually surprised given theres usually a contribution from Liverpool fans on the subject.

Responsibility for what happened is well known; 14 Liverpool fans went to prison for manslaughter, all English clubs banned from Europe for several years, the authorities were held to task about the condition of the stadium and the policing etc. I'm not suggesting anyone should feel guilty now however it's certainly a horrible part of LFC's history it would appear some would sooner not even acknowledge.
 

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I've only heard " justice for the 39" sung.

Always seemed like a mean spirited dig from a rival rather than a call for justice but I could be wrong.

Do Juve fans sing it (or something similar)? Not sure how they feel about their darkest moment being used like this by another club.
It reflects the chasm between Liverpool’s behaviour around Hillsborough and Heysel in my opinion. And the media’s for that matter.
 

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I'm sorry but this reminds me of when people are amazed that Muslims don't come out and give their condolences for a terrorist attack.

I'm positive that Liverpool fans have given condolences for this over many a year. And at the same time these same fans should not be made to feel as though they themselves are somehow responsible for these deaths.

"Houlier than though" attitudes stink in football.

Forgot to add (and it goes without saying) RIP to the lives lost that terrible day.
We’ll be swimming in condolences when the Hillsborough anniversary comes around though. That’s kind of the point.
 

Pav1878

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The point is not that Liverpool fans should feel guilty for the actions of their fellow fans at that match, but the fact that you as a fanbase and as a club, coupled with the media do not commemorate it so.it feels like it is swept under the carpet. Yet when Hillsboroughs anniversary comes round each year there is (rightfully so) lots of media coverage and remembrance.
 

Tel074

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It’s just ‘justice for Heysel’ sung on repeat to the same tune as ‘champions of England’.

But it doesn’t ‘keep it alive’. It’s sung in the ground solely on derby days, not in honour of those who lost their lives, but as a way to demean Liverpool fans. I’d wager very few, if any, fans singing it had any strong feelings about it beyond a sense of one-upsmanship. If they did surely you would see more reference to it on days like yesterday which was an anniversary of the tragic event.
The fans are correct because they have never had Justice for Heysel . Yes they do it at Liverpool games and surely that is the time to sing it because that's what the Scousers want the world to forget . I genuinely thought you meant they sang some song with lyrics so terrible by your OP.
If people singing justice for Heysel upsets you so much I'd maybe start going to tennis games instead ..

Juventus fans would be glad other teams fans sing Justice for Heysel because it shows not everyone has forgotten. Yes maybe it's to get one up on the Scousers but they would have sang it this weekend if we played Norwich .

Everton fans would sing Justice for the 96 at derby games . Would that have upset you as well
 
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