‘Law lords’ grant extradition of fans

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 8

‘Law lords’ grant extradition of fans

NZPA-Reuter London

Britain’s highest court, the House of Lords, has granted an application by the Belgian Government to extradite 26 English soccer fans accused of manslaughter in a 1985 Brussels stadium riot in which 39 people died.

A panel of five judges — the “law lords” — unanimously decided to set aside an order by a lower court last April freeing the 26 accused on technical grounds. The only way the fans can now avoid extradition is by appealing directly to the Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd, who has the final say in extradition proceedings. Belgian authorities began extradition proceedings after rioting between supporters of the then English football champions, Liverpool, and the

Italian club, Juventus, at the 1985 European Cup final. Most of the 39 dead were Italians, crushed to death when a wall collapsed.

The riot, which was seen live on television by millions of people throughout the world, was blamed mainly on the Liverpool fans who tried to invade a part of the stadium occupied by Juventus supporters. English teams have been barred from European competitions ever since.

All 26 accused fans had been on bail until June 30 when their bail was withdrawn and they were taken into custody. They were . identified after painstaking analysis of television footage and police videotapes of the riot by British and Belgian police. The Belgians say the 26 were among the ringleaders of the riot. The Belgian Justice

Minister, Jean Gol, has promised a fair trial for the 26 soccer fans.

Asked if they would have a fair trial, Mr Gol said: “I have said since the beginning of this affair that Belgian justice is above any suspicion for the way it will try these people.”

The fans are likely to be tried by three judges with no jury and if convicted could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail each. Mr Gol said the exact procedure and date for the trial would be fixed in consultation with the British Government

But he reacted angrily when asked if the trial would be over this year. “We will try and have the trial as soon as possible ... the Belgian Government did not invite these people to come to our country in May, 1985, and commit crimes,” he said.