Tighter security urged by F.I.F.A.

Press, 31 May 1985, Page 4

Tighter security urged by F.I.F.A.

NZPA-Reuter Zurich The International Football Federation (F.1.F.A.) called on member associations yesterday to step up security in the wake of yesterday’s violence at the European Cup championship match in Brussels. Joseph Blatter, the secre-tary-general of F.1.F.A., told Reuter that F.I.F.A. would reinforce a letter sent 10 days ago to members urging them to contact local authorities at matches to ensure proper security. Mr Blatter said it was conceivable that the European Football Union (U.E.F.A.), which organised the contest, would ban English football teams from future international club competitions after supporters of Liverpool rushed into a stand occupied by Juventus fans an hour before the game was scheduled to start. In the resulting stampede, a wall supporting the terraces at Heysel stadium collapsed and about 40 people died —

trampled to death, crushed or stabbed in the rioting. F.1.F.A., which is responsible for games between national teams, itself planned no action against the English national side, Mr Blatter said: “Not for the time being." But F.I.F.A. might intervene in club competitions if the U.E.F.A. did not take appropriate steps to halt soccer violence. "F.I.F.A. would have not only the authority but the need to intervene for the good of the game,” he said. The Blatter said that whatever happened in Brussels, it was clear that security precautions were inadequate, given what he called the “wellknown hooliganism of English fans.” The game should never have been played in a stadium where 80 per cent of the fans were in standing places. Organisers should ensure that stadiums were comfortable since it was clear that seated fans were less likely to engage in rioting, he said.