When UEFA Banned England

Arion, Rebecca and Olly recall the shocking events of the Heysel Stadium disaster, which lead to all English football clubs being banned from European competitions for five years from 2nd June, 1985.

The tragedy occurred during the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, when hooligans from both clubs had infiltrated the neutral sections. The policing was inadequate, with officers diverted by minor thefts, and the stadium's security measures woefully insufficient.

39 fans died, and 600 were injured, but, astonishingly, the match continued - with Juventus winning 1-0.

In this episode, The Retrospectors discover how the ban led to the creation of the ill-fated ‘Screensport Super Cup’; consider how Rupert Murdoch's investment in rights transformed the sport; and reveal how the ban affected English clubs’ ability to attract international talent…

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The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

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