25 SEPTEMBER 1999, Page 42

From Mr Brian Glanville Sir: Alan Clark's repugnant praise of

the Liverpool 'fans' who caused the death of 39 Italian spectators at Heysel Stadium in 1985 might be ascribed to ignorance. Bruce Anderson should certainly know better.

The Juventus supporters on those ter- races were not the usual fans of the Turin club who were gathered, hooligans includ- ed, at the opposite end. They were there thanks to administrative ineptitude which enabled Italian immigrant workers to obtain tickets at the Liverpool end and send them home. Many of them went to families, among them the women and chil- dren gratuitously attacked by Liverpool supporters. Certainly the Italians should not have been there in the first place but, once there, they were an easy target. `Fierce pride' indeed! Of what?

Brian Glanville

160 Holland Park Avenue, London W1I