Galatasaray beat English team Leeds United but their matches were marred by violence: two Leeds United fans were stabbed to death before their semi-final first leg at Galatasaray's Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul on 6 April 2000. ', While a third posted: 'They suit each other. Rory Carroll in Istanbul and Martin Wainwright. [21] This lasted 20 minutes[19] before the Danish police attempted to break up the melee with dogs[22] and tear gas. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. When they landed at Leeds-Bradford airport, a Leeds United club car was waiting to pick them up from the runaway, avoiding the cameras waiting inside. Give our social media channels a follow . The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". Football riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (May 2000). After travelling to the Turkish capital to follow the club, Mr Speight and Mr Loftus were attacked with machetes when a row broke out between rival fans. Wed heard that Istanbul could be a bit dangerous but we never thought anything of it, Andy says. Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. It was a haunting moment then and it haunts me now. [30] A Danish police officer[22] and a Turkish cameraman were also injured in the riots. Its a strange thing but its important to me. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. Further information on the Istanbul violence: "Tragedy that awaited two fans on a journey to hell", "16 Hardcore Hooligan Firms, Ultras Groups We Wouldn't Want to Mess with", "Soldiers join hooligans to attack Turks in Cup clash", "Town in fear as drunken English pour in", "Arsenal-Galatasaray, sous le signe de la violence", "English, Turkish fans clash on eve final", "Copenhagen police overrun as soccer fans cause mayhem", "Folkefest endte i vold og masseslagsml", "Surprise attack by Arsenal fans seeking revenge sparked battle", "Violence erupts again as English and Turkish football fans riot in Copenhagen", "Danish police fear more brawls after European soccer final", "Violence overshadows historic soccer victory", "Charleroi lobby yet to learn lessons of Heysel", "Turkish and English fans clash at airport", "Galatasaray Wins UEFA Cup After Day of Rioting by Fans", "England told: more rioting and you're out", "Piers Morgan On Arsenal, Foreign Ownership and Twitter Rants", "SPORTS - The shadow on the UEFA Cup triumph", "How long until Turk fans cause another death on the pitch? Leeds supporters who were present denied causing trouble and the UK coroner who presided over the inquest, David Hinchliff, stated in unequivocal terms that Speight and Loftus were the innocent victims of a deliberate ambush. They knew there had been trouble but the club made an effort to hold back some detail on the basis that if the game went ahead, they would need to concentrate on it. In the first leg it was difficult to say, Lets get out there do it for the two lads because we didnt have the full picture, Gray says. Around them, riot police are standing with shields in the air, protecting the players from what Fallows says was all sorts of things smashing off them. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. That deal took Kewell back to a stadium where he and Leeds once needed protection with riot shields. Galatasaray accused him of trying to gain an unfair sporting advantage. A group of rival fans gathered and jeers were exchanged. Life is good. Fallows is convinced that Galatasaray and the Turkish police made deliberate attempts to rattle and unsettle away teams, forcing players to squeeze through tight lines of officers to gain entry to the ground and admitting thousands of home fans to the stadium hours before kick-off. The Speights were a close family who lived in the Yorkshire village of Farsley, where Kevin Speight was landlord of the Bay Horse pub. Some claimed the English sparked it by throwing beer glasses at passing women pedestrians. Chris and Kevin were brutally murdered in Istanbul on the eve of our UEFA Cup semi-final fixture with Galatasaray in 2000. His most recent role as a club manager was at English National League side Barnet, and he is currently a first team coach at Celtic.. As a player, Kewell represented Leeds United, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al-Gharafa and Melbourne Heart. But he didnt make much of it, like it was something of nothing. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. Galatasaray fans entered the area shortly afterwards which precipitated a fight between the two sets of supporters. [35] In response, Prime Minister Tony Blair stated: Hopefully this threat will bring to their senses anyone tempted to continue the mindless thuggery that had brought such shame to the country.[35]. galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. He said getting involved in charity work and fundraisers, including running half-marathons in memory of his brother, had helped him to deal with his sibling's death. And there was the time when Speight took him to Elland Road and George, in his infancy, mistakenly cheered when the opposition scored. The images of that never grow old. "There was nothing in the days running up to this match to suggest there would be this level of violence," Mr Hunt said. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. By that stage he was exhausted. I went off the rails, he says. Last year, on the 20th anniversary of the killings in Istanbul, The Athletic spoke to some of the people closest to the tragedy and some of the people most affected by it. Wed spoken about doing something beforehand, he says. Something went wrong, please try again later. [8], The stabbings caused anger throughout the United Kingdom, and subsequently members of Arsenal's hooligan firms The Herd and The Gooners,[9] wanted to avenge the deaths of the Leeds fans, and telephoned other British hooligan firms, inviting them to join them in Copenhagen to attack Galatasaray fans. As a family, I dont know how you come to terms with that., Inside the Ali Sami Yen, hundreds of Leeds supporters attended the first leg as planned and were housed in a small section of yellow seats. It was the same at the second leg when I had to stand and look after Galatasarays main man at Elland Road. Shes struggled with it more than I have because shes got nothing there. It was weird because when we got in the car, the game (Galatasaray versus Leeds) had just started and was on the radio, Andy says. Demir was allowed to undertake national service with the Turkish military before being convicted for a second time in June 2007 and sentenced to 80 months. galatasaray leeds deathashtoreth worship practices. Everything happened in a flash. Galatasaray wanted me from the start. George has no recollection of his dad leaving for Istanbul or of him saying goodbye. Its that attitude of, They must have gone looking for it. All the stuff about cars being tipped over, us disrespecting their women if youd been there, youd know. Even then, it was meant to be closed to the press but loads of them were there and they were being really intrusive, Fallows says. Football authorities condemned the riots and threatened to expel national football teams from European competition if such events happened again. [48] In 2001, the tribunal ruled in their favour,[49] and ordered Royal Mail to reinstate them. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. (Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt AMA/Getty Images). She remarried and shes carried on with her life but its still there, every time you come up to my dads birthday or the anniversary. This caused a severe riot in the city square, with several restaurant facilities used by fans to fight each other, with iron bars and knives also being used. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. Ridsdale was told by staff at the hospital that Speight was in a critical condition and needed an urgent transfusion but that the blood had to be paid for. The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. He sees it now as a necessary shock to the system. The events of the day started early in the morning when skirmishes broke out in a bar, which led to an Arsenal fan being stabbed. 12/02/2021 . . I looked at Eddie, he looked at me, we smiled a nervous smile and both said the same thing: Lets go.. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. The problem shouldn't have been Alioski or his next club, it's how Galatasaray dealt with that tragedy By Phil Hay Jul 24, 2021 In the early hours of the morning after the death of two Leeds. I think those who arrived later knew what to expect.". The police were knocking everyone about, says Paul Holmes, a friend of the Loftuses who was in Taksim Square when the violence broke out. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. The design of the place meant the Leeds players had to take a long walk to the tunnel, flanked by armed police. [17] This came after Arsenal had warned the police before the final that there could be hooligans travelling to Copenhagen. On April 5 2000 two Leeds fans, Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus, were stabbed to death before the 2000 Uefa Cup semi-final first leg against Galatasaray in Taksim Square, Istanbul. The Galatasaray fans were later attacked from behind by members of British hooligan firms seeking revenge for the Istanbul stabbings. They have nothing but good words for Ridsdales conduct and nothing but gratitude for his support. Its the most terrified Ive ever been, he says. [16] Dineen was released from hospital later in the day and attended the match as a guest of the Arsenal directors. Because I was so young and the memories arent clear, I get times when I ask myself if it really happened. Holly, as a two-year-old, was left with no memories at all. Turkish Prime Minister Blent Ecevit also made a call for fans to avoid violence after the riots, stating: Sports should be an initiative for friendship, not for fighting. Andy was jailed in 2013 for his part in a fight between Leeds and Tottenham Hotspur fans in which a Spurs supporter was knocked unconscious. According to a waiter at a nearby restaurant, the Turkish club's fanatical fans had heard through the grapevine that trouble was brewing. Peter Ridsdale, the chairman who guided Leeds through the tragedy, is approaching 70. On each trip he would set up a desk in the corridor where the team were staying, a point of contact in case of any problems. It felt to me like the police were trying to frighten us, he says. One of our security lads had to go with the bus to a compound, some sort of a lock-up. He had a passion for Lambretta scooters and spent his spare time fixing old models in his mothers garden. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; "a huge occasion for the club in a football sense," Ridsdale says. He visited his fathers body in the chapel of rest across the road, bringing pictures he had drawn for him with felt tips. In May 2002 Demir, who admitted the stabbings, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with four other men imprisoned for three months each. Some Arsenal fans reacted negatively to the news, claiming that there was still bad blood between the two sets of supporters and were concerned that there would be a resumption of hostilities between them.[51]. pleasant grove high school / staff directory; dr omar suleiman wife esraa; ontario road trip summer; song baseball apple; waltham athletic club tennis schedule; galatasaray leeds death. [15] In the fight, Paul Dineen, an Arsenal fan, was stabbed, leading to Arsenal offering fans refunds if they did not want to fly to the game. [42] Arsenal fans also criticised the police, claiming that they had been slow to intervene and were "too soft" on the hooligans. They knocked back as much Elfe (lager), Jack Daniels and Bacardi as I could pour.". Leeds fans had planned to honour the memories of Speight and Loftus this weekend by holding up photos of the two murdered men at the home game with Blackburn Rovers. At this juncture, it should be said that Kewell and Alioski were not identical. Thats what they were, kids. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. Welcome to Hell, Galatasaray liked to say. I know bits and bats but it doesnt help me to go over it, he says. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. [2] I dont think, even to this day, that Galatasaray would see the amount of press coverage or criticism as being fairly labelled against them, Risdale says. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. galatasaray leeds death. The police were doing nothing to stop them. He liked a drink and a laugh, simple as that, Andy says. It was horrible. [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. They had been a couple since their teens. I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. [18] Later, large numbers of Galatasaray fans congregated in Copenhagen's City Hall Square, raising the Turkish flag in the square. All he recalls about the incident was being woken up by Susan the following morning and told, as softly as it could be broken, that Speight had died. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. Its completely different. Menu Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . Twenty Leeds fans, witnesses to the fight, were interviewed. The routine for Andy and others who went abroad with Leeds was always the same: straight to the hotel, straight into town, straight on the beer. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. [39] Later on, British media blame also transferred towards Galatasaray fans. He can picture the facade as he entered and the floorplan of the area where other injured Leeds fans had congregated; where Speight lay on an operating table, desperate for surgery. It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". The Turkish media tried to blame English fans for provoking the violence by being drunk and disrespecting the Turkish flag. Both families come here each April 5, to lay flowers and let another year pass. Andy Loftus had flown to watch the match with his brother. Christopher's brother was there [at the time of the incident] and I think that the impact on those two families can never be underestimated.". [5] As a result of the stabbings, Leeds United banned Galatasaray fans from attending the second leg at Elland Road, claiming that the safety of fans could not be guaranteed. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. ', And: 'Alioski can f*** off, he obviously knows the history between the two clubs.'. They will never be forgotten.. Witnesses said he had been bludgeoned by police as he cradled a dying Chris in the street. "This was a premeditated attack," said Steve Wilkinson, who suffered knife wounds to one leg and a wound to his hand. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. When they came back to Elland Road they thought our request for no away fans was inappropriate. But eventually the issue of what to do about the game had to be addressed. Within a year, however, Demir, following an appeal, was a free man after his conviction was quashed and a re-trial ordered. Asked shortly afterwards whether he thought the tie would still go ahead, Mr Ridsdale said: "It's too early to say. This morning the Dutch international tweeted: "Finally my GalatasaraySK knife set is now available and can be delivered everywhere.". Devastated., The next 24 hours were a blur. I didn't know this and deleted our promotion for the merchandise kitchen item #respect. Football and Leedss financial collapse made Ridsdale persona non grata at Elland Road but George says his mums face lit up when she heard that he was being interviewed for this article. How the violence started is unclear. So Leeds did. [24] It was claimed that the police failed to control the riots,[43] and that they had been undermanned and outmaneuvered, to which Mogens Lauridsen, the police chief in Copenhagen admitted that the police had been "under-prepared". I knew the ramifications would be life-long., (Photo: Phil Noble PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images), Ali Sami Yen previously and voiced complaints about their treatment, so Fallows increased the size of Leedss usual security detail from three to five as a precaution. There was the time when the pub opened its doors early to allow the locals to catch an early kick-off between Leeds and Manchester United. Bouncers guarded the bars from any English fans. The away supporters responded with songs about two Leeds fans who were stabbed to death in Istanbul prior to a fixture against Galatasaray in 2000. . Later in the day, Galatasaray fans occupied City Hall Square before heading towards Arsenal fans in bars nearby. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans being banned from attending the second leg in England. "There's a lot of anger. Its funny what sticks in your head, he says. Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. David Davies, the Football Association's executive director, called it "frankly, the least worst option". [41] It was noted by Turkish newspaper, Radikal that cannabis was being freely traded in the city square during the time before the riots, and the police did nothing about it. Youre a kid. Anywhere else in Europe, I doubt it would have been played. [10] It was reported that members of Leeds United's Leeds United Service Crew[11] and Chelsea's Chelsea Headhunters, along with hooligans supporting Rangers, Cardiff City and Swansea City all travelled to Denmark to join Arsenal fans in attacks on Galatasaray fans. 13:02 EST 23 Mar 2021 [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. Friends and family of Speight and Loftus had congregated there and other Leeds fans were waiting with more minor injuries, some of them slash wounds. It was obvious that Galatasaray were making no concession for what had taken place, so that was our form of protest. There were reports that a Galatasaray fan had run to a telephone to call for support when he saw Leeds fans arriving. My instinct was that we had to know what was happening, Ridsdale says. The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. We tried to keep a lot of the information about what had happened [to Speight and Loftus] from them, rightly or wrongly. I didnt feel that their response was what our response would have been. The set of knives, emblazoned with Galatasaray's colours, are produced by Dutch firm Senvi and are available for 22.

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