From pride to shame... For 50 years, all major national and international events will take place at the Heysel Stadium. For half a century, he will remain a pride for Brussels. But everything changed in one evening. Since then, the ghosts of the 39 victims will forever haunt this football high place.
Until 1930, the Belgian capital did not have any major sports equipment. There was the Vivier-d'Oie Stadium (and its
famous concrete grandstand, built in 1902), the Dudenpark, lair of the Union Saint-Gilloise, as well as the Oscar Bossaertstadion of the Daring. But these three stadiums were located
far from Brussels-City, were stuck in poorly accessible neighborhoods and above all, had only a very limited capacity (less than 10,000
seats for the first, 15 to 25,000 for the other two).
As the country's centennial approached, the city set out in 1927 to find a site large enough to accommodate a large
stadium and several ancillary grounds. The choice will be quickly made on the Heysel plateau, north of the city.
August 23, 1930, centenary of Belgian independence, the stadium undergoes its inauguration by hosting the Track
Cycling World Championship. On September 14, Prince Leopold can officially inaugurate the new Brussels pride at
a traditional Belgium-Netherlands football derby.
Finally, the prestigious Gordon Bennett Cup takes off from the lawn in 1937 (it is an international hot air balloon competition).
The name of the complex will be logically "Centennial Stadium".
The stadium passed the 39-45 war without too much trouble. Only the wooden cycling track has disappeared, probably
converted to firewood during the occupation.
At the end of the war, the stadium is renamed "Heysel Stadium".
After the war, the stadium finds its vocation and hosts various events like a boxing match between the legendary French Marcel Cerdan against Belgian Cyrille Delannoit who will see the astonishing victory of the Belgian underdog, or in 1950, the European Championship of Athletics .
As for football, the Heysel Stadium hosts from 1954 the final of the Belgian Cup. The White Star (and his successor, the
Racing White) will take up residence there in the 60's (without meeting popular success) and Sporting Anderlecht will play
a few European matches.
From an infrastructure point of view, the stadium remains unchanged for 41 years. It will be necessary to wait until
1971 to see the first works to engage. Thus, a new tartan athletics track has been installed and, in the process,
a revolutionary lighting. Finally, a new covered stand has been erected facing the main stand in 1974. Offering only
seating, the capacity of the enclosure falls to about 50,000 places.
From 1977, these new facilities had allowed the annual holding of the Ivo Van Damme Memorial, an athletics meeting.
This competition, founded in honor of a Belgian two-time Olympic medalist at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, died
some time after his Olympic coronation, had regularly seen the records fall and will acquire over the years an excellent
reputation.
Since then, the Van Damme Memorial is a must for all world top athletes.
If a new track, a new stand and a new lighting have allowed the stadium to offer a second wind, the buildings of 1930 had no right to special treatment.
The authorities had planned to completely separate the two camps : the English on the Wemmel side (blocks X and Y) and
the Italians on the Atomium side (blocks M, N and O). Between the two, in the side stand, the neutral spectators.
On the other hand, Bloc Z, contiguous to the blocks devolving to the English, was intended to accommodate Belgian spectators,
therefore neutral. Due to poor controls, some Italians manage to slip into the Belgian Bloc Z.
In a few minutes, the maximum capacity of the stadium is exploded and after filling the various blocks, the doors are closed.
The trap is in place. Of the 50,000 places available, almost 62,000 people in the stadium. No need to give a view about safety.
Stadium partitioning plan
In the locker room, it is consternation and total confusion. The UEFA delegates, the organizers of the event, the representatives
of the City of Brussels and the police force don't know what to do : cancel the match, postpone it or play it the same evening,
despite the tragedy.
The fact that everything was filmed and broadcast live by all European TVs and the unrest in the stands, the officials decided
to play the game.
Chance or not, a penalty dropped from the sky offers the victory to Juventus. Detail really unimportant.
Warning ! These videos contain shocking scenes.
Pre-match and various interviews
BRTN report (00:12:05)
Pre-match and summary of the match
RAI report (00:09:36)
View of the stands
RAI report (01:07:25)
The next day, an investigation begins. Responsibilities are quickly established and the Belgian courts strongly
condemn the authorities (UEFA, City of Brussels, Belgian State).
As for clubs, Juventus isn't found guilty while Liverpool is banned from any international competitions for 6 years.
Other English clubs have a 3-year ban.
It was not until the tragedy of Hillsborough in 1989 (96 dead and 766 wounded) that the British authorities took the problem
of hooliganism head-on. France will wait even longer and it is the tragedy of Furiani in 1992 (18 dead and 2357 wounded)
that will initiate the securing of stadiums.
In Belgium, the Magotte commission is created and passes the stadiums of the country with a fine comb.
The stadium is gradually abandoned. Some finals of the Coup de Belgique and some matches of the Red Devils (including an
anthologic friendly match Belgium - Zambia , 9-0) are held there but the public is no longer present.
On the other hand, the Van Damme Memorial continues to stick to it.
Finally, the stadium is permanently closed in 1994.
Although it is football that has tarnished the image of the stadium, it will be the same sport that will however
make it his nobility back.
The country hasn't benefited for nearly a decade from a national stadium and Cup finals and matches of the national team
are held in the stadiums of clubs, which begins to annoy the same clubs.
At the beginning of the 1990's, an ambitious project is set up : Belgium is applying, jointly with the Netherlands, for the
organization of Euro 2000.
International matches are coming back (and too the Cup final). No problem, which will prompt UEFA to entrust Brussels with
its first European final since the sad evening of 1985.
With full stands, Paris-Saint-Germain beats Rapid Vienna 1-0 and wins its first Cup Cup. After some fears, the stadium finally
receives the congratulations of all, which helps to restore the honor of the stadium.
Since the officialization of the organization of Euro 2000, the specifications have been changed and UEFA now requires a
stadium of 50,000 seats for the opening match of the Euro 2000.
A new renovation begins immediately by rebuilding the 1974 stand and installing an additional balcony above three stands.
On the other hand, no skybox or infrastructure dedicated to VIP is planned which makes the stadium safe, functional but no
more. This lack of comfort will be more and more obvious when comfort requirements increase with time.
Nevertheless, the Heysel Stadium has managed to erase the shame of 1985 and supporters of the Red Devils begin to come back.
Belgium has reconciled with its national stadium.
In recent years and with the new popularity of the Red Devils, the King Baudouin Stadium is too small.
But, and it is much more serious for some, its relative discomfort would embarrass more than one and the presence of a track
of athletics would dilute the atmosphere coming from the stands. Somewhat subjective argumentation... The renovation or
replacement of the stadium is increasingly a hot topic of conversation.
The NEO project has several versions, including one with the stadium
As alternatives to the current stage, the City of Brussels proposes to build a new stadium on the C car park of the exhibition palaces (land owned by Brussels but located in the Flemish region, hello politics-community imbroglio) or on a highly polluted site of the SNCB/NMBS, in Schaerbeek. Basically, projects done quickly, without consultation and without long-term vision. A sad habit very Belgian.
Sacrify such a place for the pleasure of a few political representatives is it worth it ?
Wanting to forget what happened in 1985 is not it an insult to the families of the 39 victims ?
Are there no other priorities for Brussels and Belgium ?
The future will tell.
The Centenarian Stadium, in 1935.
From another angle, towards the site of the future Atomium.
The Art Deco facade of the main stand.
The large portal, unique vestige preserved during the reconstruction of the end of the 20th century.
The hall of the main stand.
The compartmentalization of standing stands will remain the same until 1985.
The wooden cycle track, which disappeared during the Second World War.
European Boxing Championship match at Heysel on May 23, 1948. The Belgian Cyrille Delannoit won, to everyone's surprise, the title against Frenchman Marcel Cerdan.
Exhibition at Centennial Stadium, probably during the Expo 58.
In 1962, a desperately empty Heysel hosted for the last time White Star - Racing, football derby of Brussels. These two clubs merged at the end of the season to form Racing White.
The Heysel plateau will keep this face for almost 30 years after the World Expo.
Late 60's.
Gymnastics exhibition at Heysel in the early 70's. The impressive lighting pylons have just been installed.
At the dawn of the 80's. In the foreground, the amusement park Meli.
During the 80's. By far, the stadium still looks great.
The pathetic face of a band of barbarians...
Block Z after the tragedy. Despite the deaths and injuries, the finale will take place.
Report (or cancel) the finale would have been suicidal given the enormous tension still present in the stands.
...
Although totally derisory during this fatal evening, it needed a winner...
The day after the match : collapsed walls, armrests and fences ripped and shame for European football.
View from the top of block Z, near the entrance. No renovation and almost no maintenance since 1930.
The beautiful facade of a condemned stadium.
One of the lighting pylons. They will remain for a long time the most powerful and performing of the continent.
1994 will be the year of the revival of the old stadium. The seated grandstand of 1974 (left) will resist still for 4 years.
A few months later, the new stands came out of the ground.
The new stadium ready for Euro 2000. In the foreground, Brupark which replaced the ancient Meli-Park.
The monolithic facade of the new stadium. The portal of Van Neck is inserted there as it can.
Portal details (1/2).
Portal details (2/2).
Place of joys and sorrows, this stadium deserves a little more respect.
Pre-match of a Belgium-Portugal in June 2007.
36,816 places on the first tier, 13,277 on the second tier.
Concrete and sheet metal. Indeed, this is not a theater.
Atmosphere in the stands. In the background, the former bloc Z.
Is it the last years of a nearly century-old stadium ?
This stadium is used daily. What will happen to its users in case of demolition ?
In memoriam. That this place be kept in respect of the victims.
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