In the city of Liverpool on Monday, the bells of the Catholic cathedral tolled 39 times. It was the first official English commemoration to the 39 mostly Italian spectators killed by a combination of hooliganism and wretched stadium disrepair before Liverpool played Juventus in the European Cup final exactly 15 years ago. Each chime was a reminder that a sporting event is not worth loss of life. With chilling timing, Euro 2000 is about to start at the site of those deaths in Brussels, albeit in a stadium renovated and renamed.
Hooliganism is resurgent.
Recent deaths in Istanbul and appalling violence in Copenhagen, each involving English and Turkish males, raise fears for the championship that runs from June 10 to July 2. It is not a European phenomenon. In Monrovia, three fans also died last month in a stadium criminally overcrowded for another World Cup qualification between Liberia and Chad. In Kenya, rampaging fans pelting their own team with cans and bottles forced the abandonment of a contest against Malawi. In Bridgetown, supporters ''celebrating'' triumph over Cuba knocked down the Cuban coach and trampled a pregnant woman in their reckless acclamation of a milestone in the ever expanding World Cup pool of achievement.