[lfc-news] Time for Turin to extend a hand of peace to Liverpool - Telegraph

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Daily Telegraph, 13 April 2005
Time for Turin to extend a hand of peace to Liverpool
By Paola Franchetti in Turin

"I was in Brussels, I know what they did to us."

We heard that reference to the Heysel stadium tragedy echo at
Liverpool's John Lennon airport when city mayor Frank Roderick and
Italian consul Nunzia Bertali were meeting Juventus supporters arriving
from Italy. It came from a Juventus fan, enraged at gestures of
friendship from Liverpool.

Here in Italy we have heard those words many times, but we have never
felt so ashamed of them. It wasn't the majority of Juventus fans, it was
just one. But that was enough.

It does not prevent Juventus fans from feeling disgusted. It deprives us
of the dignity and friendliness that fans of the Vecchia Signora - the
Old Lady, as Juventus is known in Italy - normally have.

Unfortunately, when the behaviour of small groups of supporters defies
good sense and intelligence, to use Juventus coach Fabio Capello's
words, they are noticed far more than the well-behaved majority. Despite
the sentiments of that supporter, I guarantee most Juventus fans believe
it's time to give a new meaning to those words. We want to continue
building friendship with the Liverpool fans, who showed their will to
start anew when they organised meetings, receptions and displayed
banners last week.

That minority are a threat not simply to rivals, but to us, the people
who go to the stadium simply to have fun and watch a good match, and to
our image as Italians and Juventus fans. That is why everyone here, from
Turin city authorities and the police to Juventus fans, are working hard
to isolate those fringe elements for tonight's match.

I have been attending Juventus games for 23 years now. I remember my
shock when I was watching the Heysel final on television. I was 10. My
parents sent me away from the television. Nobody has forgotten, but 20
years after the tragedy the huge majority of people are ready for a new
start, but not all of them, as certain behaviour sadly demonstrated at
Anfield.

Capello expressed the thoughts of many when he said: "Intelligent people
mustn't even think of what happened. Whoever behaves like those Juve
fans goes against good sense, against the objective of rebuilding the
relationships between the two clubs and against all that we are doing
for this sport. After 20 years there are no innocent or guilty people
any more."

Alessandro Del Piero, the striker who is a symbol to Juventus
supporters, said: "I hope our supporters let Liverpool fans feel an
atmosphere of friendship, as they did for us at Anfield."

Juventus chairman Franzo Grande Stevens, as well as other club officials
and the Liverpool management, are holding meetings with Otello
Lorentini, president of the association of Heysel victims. There will be
a commemorative ceremony and meetings to encourage fans of both sides to
make the match a night of great sport and extend their links in the future.

Marco Voltri, a Juventus fan, was at Heysel. His words are eloquent: "I
didn't speak for over a week for the shock of that night but very much
because of this I am aware of the importance of making a new start, to
shake hands with Liverpool fans. If some Juventus fans don't understand
this, it's their problem. I won't forget that night, but that doesn't
mean we can't make a new start. We can and must do so."

Nearly all Juventus fans agree with him. They hope to see Liverpool
supporters so they can shake hands with them. Help us to make this a
great day of sport.

# Paola Franchetti is a sports journalist and Juventus supporter

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