When the semi-finals for the European Cup, European Cup, Uefa Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup began in April 1984, there was a chance all three finals would be the exclusive property of British clubs. It was an exciting prospect – especially for anyone who had taken the 50-1 odds for all six teams to progress – but it wasn’t to be.

Liverpool 3-1 Dinamo Bucharest, European Cup semi-finals

Liverpool had been made to work hard to reach the semi-finals, with fine away performances against Athletic Bilbao and Benfica setting up their confrontational tie with Dinamo Bucharest. There were many running battles on the night. “I was punched, elbowed and spat at so many times that at the end of the game my shirt was covered in spit,” remembered Ian Rush.

In the 70th minute, an off-the-ball tussle between Lica Movila and Graeme Souness resulted in the Liverpool skipper landing a haymaker. Souness got away with his violent moment, but Movila’s jaw was not so fortunate.

Liverpool won the first leg 1-0, but Dinamo were out for revenge in Romania. In their autobiographies Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, and Ronnie Whelan all recounted police and soldiers performing “slit-your-throat” gestures in Bucharest. Whelan describes the atmosphere as “pure poison”, Hansen agreeing it was “the most hostile atmosphere any of us had ever known.”

The Liverpool players look pensive as they wave to the fans before kick-off in Bucharest, apart from Sammy Lee who looks like he’s having a whale of a time. Photograph: Landrain/L'Equipe/Offside

Souness faced hefty challenges throughout the match, but a goal in the 11th minute from Rush – his 100th for the club – quietened the crowd. Costel Orac equalised on the night for Dinamo but, with just six minutes remaining, Rush capitalised on dire defending to score Liverpool’s third goal of the tie and book their place in the final. After what they had been through in Bucharest, facing Roma in the Stadio Olimpico would hold no fears.

Dundee United 2-3 Roma, European Cup semi-finals

Roma’s squad was full of stars – such as Toninho Cerezo, Falcão, Francesco Graziani and Bruno Conti – but a trip to eastern Scotland was an eye-opener. Dundee United midfielder Billy Kirkwood captured the mood of the Roma camp: “They just didn’t like that it was a shitty wee stadium.” Dundee United tore into their shocked opponents and won 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Davie Dodds and Derek Stark.

Accusations circulated that United’s players had benefited from performance-enhancing drugs. “I hope we’re still on them for next game,” joked Jim McLean. These words were twisted by the Italian press and the Roma fans set about McLean’s team. Motorbikes blared horns outside their hotel all night long; the team bus was bombarded with eggs and fruit; and the match was moved to a 3.30pm kick-off to coincide with the scorching mid-afternoon sunshine. United’s players, pelted with oranges when they warmed up, would have seen the none too subtle banners as they entered the arena: “GOD CURSE DUNDEE UNITED”, “McLEAN FUCK OFF” and “ROMA HATES McLEAN, HE’S A CUNT”.

Despite the frenzied atmosphere, United weathered the early storm and could have put the tie to bed when Ralph Milne missed a glorious chance to give them a three-goal aggregate lead. Pruzzo nodded home from a corner three minutes later and then levelled matters on aggregate, wiping out United’s 2-0 advantage by half-time. Di Bartolomei scored a penalty after 57 minutes to end the Dundee United dream.

At the final whistle, Roma’s players celebrated wildly, but some let themselves down in a big way. The enduring image is one of Roma players surrounding McLean and his assistant Walter Smith, sneering and extending the middle finger towards the United boss. Smith and reserve keeper John Gardiner protected McLean as the fracas continued up the tunnel.

Roma’s Francesco Graziani celebrates after the second leg in Italy. Photograph: David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images

It was later revealed that Roma had attempted to pay a £50,000 bribe to referee Michel Vautrot before the match. Vautrot has always denied the allegation, but this did not stop Paul Sturrock writing to Uefa in 2014 to ask for runners-up’ medals. Roma were later banned from European competition but it was little consolation to McLean and his men.

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Anderlecht, Uefa Cup semi-finals

If the allegations levelled against Vautrot were true, he did a reasonably good job of hiding it. Alas, the same could not be said of Spanish referee Emilio Guruceta Muro during the second leg of the tie between Anderlecht and Nottingham Forest.

Forest won the first leg 2-0 thanks to two late goals from Steve Hodge, but the tie was far from over against the Uefa Cup holders. Anderlecht president Constant Vanden Stock wanted a guarantee of progression so contacted local criminal Jean Elst, who in turn sent a friend to Alicante to approach Muro. The referee agreed to fix the match for as much as £27,000.

Enzo Scifo scored in the 18th minute to bring Anderlecht back into the tie and the inevitable equaliser arrived just before the hour mark, with Muro playing a crucial role. Kenneth Brylle drove into the Forest penalty area and went down while standing in the rough vicinity of Kenny Swain. The referee blew for a penalty. “Kenny must have been three yards away – it was a blatant dive,” said Paul Hart. Birtles was equally as convinced, calling it “the most embarrassing decision I have ever seen in football.”

Spanish referee Emilio Guruceta Muro keeps an eye on the Uefa Cup semi-final between Anderlecht and Nottingham Forest. Photograph: Robert Vanden Brugge/AFP/Getty Images

Brylle scored the penalty and Vandenbergh completed the turnaround with just two minutes remaining. Yet there would be one more cruel twist of the knife held by Muro. A perfectly good header from Hart was ruled out in the final minute. “The ball flew past Ian Bowyer and into the net and that would have been us in the final,” recalled Hart. “Their goalkeeper was already berating his defenders and then the whistle went. Nobody had a clue why.”

Full details of the sordid deal were revealed in 1997. Many Forest players tried to claim financial compensation; Uefa, who had held evidence on the matter since 1992, attempted, but failed, to ban Anderlecht from European competition. Muro died in a car crash in 1987 so never had to answer the claims made against him. Despite the scandal, Anderlecht still play in the Constant Vanden Stock stadium.

Tottenham 2-2 Hajduk Split, Uefa Cup semi-finals

The build-up to Tottenham’s semi-final with Hajduk Split had been dominated by the announcement that manager Keith Burkinshaw would be stepping down at the end of the season. Would Burkinshaw go out in style by lifting the Uefa Cup? A 2-1 defeat away at Hajduk Split in the first leg left things on a knife edge.

Mark Falco’s goal in Yugoslavia would prove crucial, as a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane took Tottenham to the final on away goals. “There was a definite mood in the dressing room of winning for Keith,” said goalscorer Micky Hazard, who had to leave the field briefly after his strike to replace a contact lens. Burkinshaw was now booked in for the perfect leaving party.

Steve Archibald in action for Tottenham against Hajduk Split in the second leg at White Hart Lane. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Manchester United 2-3 Juventus, Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals

Paired with a Juventus team managed by Giovanni Trapattoni that included players such as Michel Platini, Zbigniew Boniek, and Paolo Rossi, Manchester United’s mission was made significantly harder when Bryan Robson tore his hamstring in training, meaning the hero from their comeback against Barcelona in the quarter-finals would miss both legs.

A deflected Rossi goal was answered by Alan Davies to leave the score 1-1 after the first leg. “How can you write us off after that?” Ron Atkinson asked the press, with few giving United any hope of now making the final. With the odds stacked against them, United put in a brave performance in Turin, but came up agonisingly short. A Boniek effort was cancelled out by Norman Whiteside, and with 20 minutes remaining, the tie was up for grabs. Rossi had other ideas, though, his last-minute winner leaving Atkinson distraught. “I thought we were unlucky to lose out so cruelly.”



Claudio Gentile and Frank Stapleton pictured at Old Trafford during the first leg. Photograph: Allsport/Getty Images

Aberdeen 0-2 Porto, Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals

Aberdeen, the holders, were seen as favourites but Porto had nine players from the Portugal team that would go on to reach the semi-finals of Euro 84 and they were dangerous. And so it proved; two 1-0 defeats loosened Aberdeen’s grip on the trophy. But Alex Ferguson’s men would have plenty of other opportunities to celebrate that season.

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