"Kevin had two young children. [14] The Arsenal fans left the bar to confront the Galatasaray fans, which led to a fight lasting for an hour before riot police managed to control it and arrested four Britons and four Turks. Kewell was quoted after joining Galatasaray as saying that to blame Galatasaray for the tragedy in Istanbul is simply wrong and discriminatory. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. 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. After a while, Andys eldest brother Phil complained of feeling ill and the two of them decided to go back to their hotel. (Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt AMA/Getty Images). Andy is one of six siblings, two sisters and four brothers, and all of the boys Phil, Chris, Darren and Andy made the trip to Turkey. We switched on the telly and it was all over the news, George says. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. The set of knives, emblazoned with Galatasaray's colours, are produced by Dutch firm Senvi and are available for 22. sauce pizza and wine mac and cheese. "When you see a man having to identify the body of his brother with a massive stab wound in his chest it just isn't what you'd associate with football.". I dont know why.. Its funny what sticks in your head, he says. "They came into town to see. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. On the 21st anniversary of Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus' deaths on April 5 2000, Martyn also recalls the immediate reaction of the Leeds squad . At the hotel, Phil went up to his room. But in the light of day, the sun hits it and the sparkle lingers. It wasnt a proper A&E unit. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. My mum struggled massively with it all and she still does now, George says. lisa left eye zodiac sign Search. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. Football is sport here and for many Istanbul residents Galatasaray - who won the league last Sunday - is football. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". Bouncers guarded the bars from any English fans. I think you just go into a downward spiral. Theyd been seeing each other for about six months.. He was eight when the deaths occurred and he was 25 when he came to England as a professional. Even so, the counterargument holds water. To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. Within minutes, a pitched battle erupted. The 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence in Istanbul, Turkey, between fans of English football team Leeds United and Turkish team Galatasaray before the first match of the UEFA Cup semi-final on 5 April 2000, led to two Leeds fans being stabbed to death by Galatasaray fans. As. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. This led to the two Leeds fans being stabbed. galatasaray leeds death Ill hear them saying, Thats Kevin Speights lad and I like that. George is aware of some of the details but has tried not to dig too deeply. Peter Hunt, the British consul general in Istanbul, had been prepared for potential trouble, as are all consuls and embassies when English fans travel abroad. Life is good. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. In the context of football, that era was phenomenally good: Leeds in Europe and another trip to the continent always waiting around the corner. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. It is unobtrusive and reads simply: In memory of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight who died tragically in Istanbul, April 5th 2000. They reported that as one of them tried to give the kiss of life to Mr Loftus, he was set upon. [7] The ban was supported by UEFA and only 80 tickets were issued to Galatasaray for officials and representatives of the Turkish government. The families of the victims will tell you that. He had travelled to the hospital where injured fans were being treated and arranged payment for a blood transfusion for Kevin Speight, one of the two who died. I was amazed, he says. From 5pm local time more than 100 Leeds fans had arrived shouting, singing and demanding beer, according to Batu Dedeler, the bar owner. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. Holmes says Andy was the life and soul of the party before Istanbul but the impact of Chriss death was severe. It was totally deliberate. As a free agent, he had a decision to make about how best to look after himself with his 30th birthday coming next year (and in the end, looking after himself meant joining Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia last night). But he was not and the atmosphere was initially warmer than normal. Galatasaray fans entered the area shortly afterwards which precipitated a fight between the two sets of supporters. [6] Demir was later found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, but released in 2004. The design of the place meant the Leeds players had to take a long walk to the tunnel, flanked by armed police. Right up to the attack, I didnt see any trouble. Other fans in Istanbul spoke of isolated incidents here and there but nothing serious. Speight and Loftus were not close friends but knew each other in passing, as travelling football fans do. Spencer stepped in and paid with his personal credit card. Leeds fans furious as Alioski's move to Galatasaray nears completion 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. There isnt much that unnerves me but that was quite a scary moment. Galatasaray advance to Ziraat Trkiye Kupas . As injured and angry Leeds fans came through, he did what he could. [20], Then, in a calculated attack, approximately 500 Arsenal fans[19] attacked from the main road behind the Galatasaray fans. The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up." The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. Former Leeds United Chairman Peter Ridsdale said: "The lasting impact has been to see the devastating effect it's had on Christopher and Kevin's families. [2] A Galatasaray player who endorsed a set of knives as Leeds United paid tribute to fans fatally stabbed before a game against his club has apologised. US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. It was the same at the second leg when I had to stand and look after Galatasarays main man at Elland Road. And there was the time when Speight took him to Elland Road and George, in his infancy, mistakenly cheered when the opposition scored. More than a dozen police watched but initially did not intervene. [25] The British fans were later released without charge but were forbidden from returning to Denmark. [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. Rory Carroll in Istanbul and Martin Wainwright. ", Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter with the day's key headlines and transfer news straight into your inbox. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. It triggered something and I ran into the ward. 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. Through different eyes and different viewpoints, a picture built up of the disregard and indifference with which they had been treated by those they looked to for help. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". And others, like Eddie Gray and Ian Harte, have moved on with their lives. As a Turkish man is found guilty in Istanbul of murdering two Leeds United fans, the BBC gauges the reaction of local people. They all say no. galatasaray leeds death - kikuyajp.com [30] A Danish police officer[22] and a Turkish cameraman were also injured in the riots. The passing of time is there in all of them. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I didn't know this and deleted our promotion for the merchandise kitchen item #respect. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. Football riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (May 2000). The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. Uefa, after consultation with the clubs and the Turkish authorities, wavered but eventually decided to go ahead. The setting was Turkeys biggest city, on the banks of the Bosphorus, and the game was the first leg of a UEFA Cup semi-final. Later in the day, Galatasaray fans occupied City Hall Square before heading towards Arsenal fans in bars nearby. Galatasaray.org I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. Ridsdale still struggles to accept Galatasarays indifferent reaction to the stabbings. [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. I was getting into trouble, drinking and fighting. A couple of lads came back to the hotel on their own and when I asked where the rest of them were, they didnt know. Speights son, George, is no longer the cheeky kid with floppy hair smiling brightly in the photograph of his father he digs out. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; a huge occasion for the club in a football sense, Ridsdale says. Former club legend Harry Kewell previously soured his relationship with Leeds fans after moving to Galatasaray from Liverpool in 2008. In May 2002 Demir, who admitted the stabbings, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with four other men imprisoned for three months each. I was so pleased to get on the plane out of Turkey but once I got back and thought about things, the reality of two lads dying out there got to me. He was taken to identify the other, Chris Loftus, in the morgue after doctors mistook him for a family member. Others suggested a group of Leeds supporters had attacked a lone Turk, possibly a taxi driver, who had then returned with a mob wielding knives and machetes. [38] The photos led to some postmen working for Royal Mail losing their jobs because they had been seen in the photos and in television coverage,[46] even though they had not been arrested. "Once more English hooligans, once more, blood," said the mainstream Hurriyet newspaper. Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. Kevin Fallows was the clubs head of security and travelled with the players to all their fixtures in Europe. I had joked with him and said, At least youll be safe. He gave me a look and said, Or maybe not., The attitude as far as I could see was, Lets intimidate these lads and see what happens. Leeds back then had a lot of kids in their squad. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. Galatasaray 3-2 HangiKredi mraniyespor MORE. I prefer to go to the plaque at Elland Road, he says. Then you get your head around whats actually happened. 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.". The plaque on the wall by Elland Roads East Stand says Never Forgotten and Leeds United swore themselves to those words. [47] Michael Doherty, the chairman of the Communication Workers Union, and his brother Tom took Royal Mail to an Employment Tribunal for unfair dismissal claiming they had been acting in self-defence. 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. ", Jack Connolly added: "That Wesley Sneijder knife launch is disgusting, scum of the earth.". 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence - Wikiwand When youre seven you cant process something like that, can you? 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. Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed during street clashes the night before Leeds played Turkey's Galatasaray in the second leg of the Uefa Cup semi-finals in April 2000. 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. Can you list the top facts and stats about 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence? Arsenal qualified for the final by defeating French club Lens in their semi-final. [19] The Danish police then moved in to separate the fans, and moved the Galatasaray fans back towards the square. I stood there with Eddie Gray, Fallows says. But from 10.30pm local time, any sense of complacency seemed tragically misplaced, as a brutal battle began between Leeds supporters and a group of Turks, with running fights in the streets. She knows who he was but its not the same.. The friend who arranged their trips abroad organised for them to fly home via Brussels. Thats what they were, kids. He was on the scene as the club grieved and as much as any other of David OLearys players, he was in a position to fully comprehend both the impact of the killings and Galatasarays response to them. But where Galatasaray failed, and where Ridsdale specifically felt resentment, was in grasping the scale of the tragedy and in refusing to accept that violence on the streets and a UEFA Cup tie could not be classed as unrelated events once the worst had happened. A group of rival fans gathered and jeers were exchanged. Jesus. Turkish man jailed for stabbing deaths of Leeds fans Leeds fans RAGING at Ezgjan Alioski transfer links to Galatasaray Gray, a Glaswegian, was in the Celtic end with his wife Linda on the day of the Ibrox disaster in 1971. I didnt want to be standing there telling them what to do and I understood that they didnt want to hear it. When he arrived at the hospital, Darren was in a bed with head injuries. The deaths of Kevin Speight and Chris Loftus on the night before Leeds played their Uefa Cup semi-final first leg with Galatasaray - 20 years ago yesterday - represent one of the darkest and. The police claim he was punched. Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. "There's a lot of anger. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. A lot of what went on I dont want to know. Andy got a pint at the bar. [34] The Copenhagen riots followed a long line of similar events involving English football fans, and in June, UEFA's executive committee listed the Heysel Stadium disaster, disorders in Charleroi and Brussels, the killing of the two Leeds fans in Istanbul, and the Copenhagen riots and warned the British government that if there was any more rioting then England would be expelled from Euro 2000. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. I looked at Eddie, he looked at me, we smiled a nervous smile and both said the same thing: Lets go.. The complication here is that football has no right to dictate how people manage a grievance that goes so far beyond standard rivalry. Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. Galatasaray wanted me from the start. [10][12] This led to the final being considered "high risk"; 2,000 members of the Danish police were assigned to the game, with assistance from members of British and Turkish police forces. I feel sorry for her, George says. According to one witness, a Turkish man was pushed to the ground and smashed his teeth on the pavement. We had hundreds of fans in Turkey, some in the air and another plane due to fly the following morning (the morning flight out from Leeds-Bradford Airport was rapidly cancelled). 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. Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. Man United respond to Leeds hostility with thrilling win as Harry According to a waiter at a nearby restaurant, the Turkish club's fanatical fans had heard through the grapevine that trouble was brewing. Turk admits stabbing murdered Leeds fan | Soccer | The Guardian Those killed were "attackers", it said. 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. The cause of the fighting which broke out after dark in Istanbul was a subject of fierce contention in the weeks after the stabbings. In its opinion, contesting the game was the least worst option. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. 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. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. The Loftus family gave up on campaigning for justice in Turkey because they did not think the system cared about them. When we got to the bottom of the stairs they pulled out a drawer, a bit like a filing cabinet, and Christophers body was there. George understands why but wishes with hindsight that he had been there. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans . Shes struggled with it more than I have because shes got nothing there. If someone could have shown me those levels of intimidation, Id have refused to play the game unhesitatingly. 13:02 EST 23 Mar 2021 Susan chose not to take the children to Speights funeral. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. [31] Nineteen of the arrested were British, thirty-six were Turkish and the rest of the arrested included people from Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. Your choice, the official replied. Hed just met a girl. The morning after Loftus and Speight were killed, Fallows and Stokoe were asked by Ridsdale to visit every hotel where the clubs supporters were staying. We catch up at the cafe in an Asda store near his home in Killingbeck and he speaks bravely but reluctantly; not because he wants to but because he thinks he should, for the sake of his brother Chriss memory. The facilities are great. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous evening were rapidly sinking in and for those who were closest to it, the images wont fade. For long periods, none of those found guilty spent time behind bars. Past present or future..', A second added: 'Would much rather see one of the u23s get a chance at lb than Alioski for the rest of the season. What they were seeing was pretty graphic so we said to them, Turn the tellies off, go to bed and wait for us to get some proper details. The footage was grainy and frightening, capturing a helpless Loftus with bloodstains on his shirt. I jumped in a taxi and went back to Taksim Square., He has no recollection of how he came to be at Taksim Hospital, only that he found himself there after being told that the fighting had been serious. They have nothing but good words for Ridsdales conduct and nothing but gratitude for his support. The way the police and the authorities were with us. 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. Harry Kewell - Wikipedia Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes in April 2000 at 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray. 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 interview included vague expressions of regret but no apology to Speight and Loftus or their relatives. We had a coach for the players and a coach for the directors, he says. I didnt want to do it either. Bowyer leads out the Leeds team as the first leg went ahead (Photo: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images), A minutes silence is observed before the return leg at Elland Road (Photo: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images). For me, it didnt feel real. Even now I get the feeling that people think we started it, Andy says. Staff said many fans were drunk by 10pm, intimidating Turkish families drinking in the lounge. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. He was showered with stickers and sweets gifts from friends who lived locally and Ridsdale, who supported both families throughout, delivered Easter eggs to the house for him and Holly. I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. "We did amazing business in one hour. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. On the 20th anniversary of their deaths, he said: "I suffered quite badly after it happened. Wesley Sneijder, a Dutch international who . 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. I thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. Bits of Istanbul werent in control. I make no secret of that., Leeds were beaten 2-0 in Istanbul and lost over two legs after a 2-2 draw at home. The 45-year-old was an unused sub when Leeds were defeated by Galatasaray in an infamous 1999-00 Uefa Cup semi-finals - a match that was overshadowed by the death of two Yorkshire fans in the . Istanbul was like no other event he has dealt with. They thought we were looking for a sporting advantage, which is just incredible. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. 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]. Others that the Turks precipitated it by throwing chairs. 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. Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder.
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