It was the decision that everybody connected with English football clubs had anticipated - they were suspended from competing in the European Cup, UEFA Cup and Cup winners' Cup for five years in the wake of the Heysel tragedy.

Four days earlier 39 people, mainly Juventus supporters, lost their lives around an hour before their side had been due to take on Liverpool in the 1985 European Cup final in Brussels.

The authorities placed the blame at the feet of the Liverpool fans, who were said to have charged towards a wall, which subsequently collapsed on their Juve counterparts, killing 39 and injuring approximately 600 others.

The Football Association reacted swiftly and imposed a ban on its clubs from taking part on the European stage with immediate effect. Unsurprisingly, they were firmly in favour of the UEFA sanctions, which were extended by a further year until 1991 for Liverpool.

"There are many of us who don't want to see us back in Europe until we have got our own house in order," the FA's secretary Ted Croker said at the time.

The match still took place, with Juventus winning 1-0 thanks to a penalty from the now UEFA president Michel Platini. However, as Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie revealed to BBC Sport, the players were not overly aware of the tragic scenes that had unfolded.

"We we very much cocooned in that dressing room. We did not really know what the situation was outside," he said. "As we were getting changed in the dressing room there was the usual banter, obviously the usual nerves because it was such a big occasion, and then we got conflicting reports about what had happen."

A total of 14 Liverpool supporters stood trial, accused of involuntary manslaughter. They were eventually found guilty in 1989 and sentenced to three years in prison, although half of the terms were suspended.

A plaque was recently installed outside Liverpool's Anfield ground to remember the dead and is a site that many Juventus fans have travelled to in order to pay their respects.

The Heysel Stadium has since been demolished and has been replaced by the all-seater Stade Roi Baudouin.