“The Heysel Stadium disaster is a constant warning to the conscience of European football. Although years have passed, the emotion lives on. We remember so that a tragedy like this never happens again.”

These were FIGC President Gabriele Gravina’s words in memory of the victims of the Heysel Stadium disaster, 35 years on from the tragedy that saw 39 people lose their lives before the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool on 29 May 1985.

In November 2015, with a friendly against Belgium played in Brussels, the FIGC came together with the Belgian Federation to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy, with the Azzurri laying a wreath of flowers under the plaque bearing the names of those who lost their lives in the Z section of the stadium that day. Together with representatives of the Association for the Families of Heysel Victims led by Andrea Lorentini, the Italian Federation symbolically retired the No.39 shirt in memory of the victims, with the shirt signed by all of the Azzurri’s players and put on display at the Football Museum in Coverciano.