. Leeds will on Saturday afternoon mark 15 years since the deaths of supporters Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were stabbed by a Galatasaray fan in April 2000. So Leeds did. The Galatasaray fans were later attacked from behind by members of British hooligan firms seeking revenge for the Istanbul stabbings. [37], In the United Kingdom, Arsenal fans were originally blamed for the violence as the police had fixed blame on them. Over a coffee in Starbucks, George Speight finds a way to be philosophical about his fathers death. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Even so, the counterargument holds water. The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up." The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. They had no direct contact with Galatasarays security officials but Fallows and Harry Stokoe, Leedss stadium manager, were able to visit the Ali Sami Yen the day before the game to map the venue out. 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Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Life is good. His brother was following behind us and, quite understandably, he lost it. I didnt want to be standing there telling them what to do and I understood that they didnt want to hear it. 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. Thats just how the system worked. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Fallows is a security guard with ample experience. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. 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. The plaque on the wall by Elland Roads East Stand says Never Forgotten and Leeds United swore themselves to those words. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. There was no minutes silence or acknowledgement of the deaths. Some headed for the James Joyce pub 200 metres away and joined a sing-song against Galatasaray. 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. [17] This came after Arsenal had warned the police before the final that there could be hooligans travelling to Copenhagen. Tuesday 5th April 2022 marks 22 years since two loyal Leeds United supporters, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, travelled to Turkey to watch their beloved team in action but tragically never returned home. Harry Kewell is in front of him, carrying a ball and looking bewildered. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. The police claim he was punched. There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. There was the time when he was caught stealing two pounds from the pub till and sent by Speight to sit in the office until Susan came home to read the riot act. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. 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. Obviously he liked his football too. I knew the ramifications would be life-long.. No question.. When youre seven you cant process something like that, can you? Susan chose not to take the children to Speights funeral. The Danish police were also criticized for their mishandling of the riots. This year is the 20th anniversary of the mens deaths in Istanbul and many of their relatives carry those events as if they happened yesterday. Absolutely amazed and totally stunned. I thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. The Turkish side are hated by those at Elland Road after two travelling fans were stabbed to. But in the light of day, the sun hits it and the sparkle lingers. 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. Witnesses said he had been bludgeoned by police as he cradled a dying Chris in the street. He visited his fathers body in the chapel of rest across the road, bringing pictures he had drawn for him with felt tips. Anger: Leeds fans are angry that Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder has announced a new knife range on the 15th anniversary of the stabbing of two fans in Istanbul, Violence: An injured fan is taken away after riots between Leeds and Galatasaray fans before match in Turkey, Horror: A fan is escorted away from the violence by a police officer after riots between Leeds and Galatasaray fans. 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. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. 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 . sauce pizza and wine mac and cheese. [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. Wesley Sneijder, a Dutch international who . The English FA followed the line of least resistance. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. We switched on the telly and it was all over the news, George says. There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. Galatasaray advance to Ziraat Trkiye Kupas . "It's just a bit of a rollercoaster ride really but we get by," he said. Has to be the biggest DO NOT for any Leeds player!! 13:02 EST 23 Mar 2021 Speight and Loftus were not close friends but knew each other in passing, as travelling football fans do. This morning the Dutch international tweeted: "Finally my GalatasaraySK knife set is now available and can be delivered everywhere.". galatasaray leeds death. Ill hear them saying, Thats Kevin Speights lad and I like that. Something went wrong, please try again later. It takes a certain amount of nerve to put a foot in both camps, which is doubtless why Harry Kewell was able to do so in 2008 when he left Liverpool for the Ali Sami Yen. Bits of Istanbul werent in control. In the early hours of the morning after the death of two Leeds United supporters in Istanbul, Peter Ridsdale met with a delegate from UEFA at one of the citys police stations. 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. Then a good mate of mine appeared and said thered been a bit of trouble. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were killed in Istanbul, Turkey, in April 2000, Their deaths had left a "lasting impact" on their families, a former Leeds United chairman said. [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. Turkish eye-witnesses accused Leeds fans of insulting women, defacing the Turkish flag, urinating in the street and tipping over a car. People speak well of him. By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. I prefer to remember that way. George is a regular at Leeds games but until his teens he would wait outside the stadium at the home fixture closest to the April 5 anniversary while a minutes applause played out. I dont know why.. Those killed were "attackers", it said. By 10.30pm some of the rowdiest fans left the James Joyce and joined a crowd outside McDonalds just off Taksim Square. Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Two Leeds fans were stabbed to death by Galatasaray supporters before game Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. I didnt want to do it either. 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. Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder. It also contains a table with average age, cumulative market value and average market value for each player position and overall. Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . Ridsdale is someone the Speights hold in high regard. Your choice, the official replied. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Leeds' bitter hatred towards the Turkish side is no secret after two of their supporters, Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight, were stabbed to death by Galatasaray fans prior to the UEFA Cup. Trust us, this is only going to get worse., It didnt go down well, and I got that. 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. He was with Darren Loftus, Christopher's brother who had travelled with him, to identify his body. They know what he did for us.. [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. 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. It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. We tried to raise awareness but it was a farce. 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. "Once more English hooligans, once more, blood," said the mainstream Hurriyet newspaper. It was how away days in Europe played out. Bouncers guarded the bars from any English fans. Theyd been seeing each other for about six months.. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. For George, the clearest memories of his dad are few and slightly random. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. The Loftuses fought for justice for as long as they could. Turkish police, according to British of ficials, appeared to be taking the killings as seriously as they would hope. ', Some wrote stronger messages, such as: 'Washed my hands with Alioski if he f***s off to those vermin. One of our security lads had to go with the bus to a compound, some sort of a lock-up. We had to say to them as clearly as we could, If you go into the streets, if you go out drinking, we cant tell you how dangerous itll be. 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. 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. You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare them.. "They came into town to see. Ali Sami Yen, the stadium was so overcrowded that he had Galatasaray fans in front of him literally sat on my feet. The next day, he and Leeds players and coaching staff reached the airport, climbed on a plane and flew home. British fans were outnumbered and chased up side streets. There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. Without his help, my mum would have been a bit lost, George says. He died in an operating theatre in the early hours of the morning, despite Leeds United paying for blood supplies to be rushed to him. 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. At a local police station, at around 4am on April 6, Ridsdale was given a stark message by the UEFA representative who turned up there: play the game, or forfeit it and incur an automatic 3-0 defeat. Mr Loftus's brother Andy said: "I know it may seem a long time but it's still very much like yesterday really.". David Davies, the Football Association's executive director, called it "frankly, the least worst option". Holmes was there and witnessed the entire away end turning their backs to the pitch with arms raised, an act of silent defiance and dissent. 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 I dont want to imply criticism of the hospital for that, Ridsdale says. I prefer to go to the plaque at Elland Road, he says. At the hotel, Phil went up to his room. The Ibrox disaster was a tragedy, an accident, he says. Spencer stepped in and paid with his personal credit card. [22] The riots did not spread to the stadium, although there was an attempt to pull down the fences by fans heading towards the Arsenal area of the stadium before police stopped them. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. Theyd turned on their tellies and it was all over the Turkish news, Fallows says. Nigel Martyn has exclusively told LeedsUnited.News that playing against Galatasaray in the first leg of the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000 - just 24 hours after the murders of two Leeds fans - is to this day, his biggest regret in football. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. 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? 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. At this juncture, it should be said that Kewell and Alioski were not identical. The friend who arranged their trips abroad organised for them to fly home via Brussels. ', While a third posted: 'They suit each other. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. People know me because of my dad, he says. Both had numerous other wounds. 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. ", Jack Connolly added: "That Wesley Sneijder knife launch is disgusting, scum of the earth.". 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. 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. [6] Demir was later found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, but released in 2004. Leeds head of security at the game recalled police officers lining the corridors in Galatasarays ground as the players emerged from the dressing room; an attempt, in his eyes, to intimidate them as they prepared to go onto the pitch. But if you back out, youll forfeit the game and incur a 3-0 defeat. As kick-off drew near, the drums and the noise from the stadium filtered down to the Ali Sami Yens subterranean dressing rooms. 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. 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. Within minutes, a pitched battle erupted. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. 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. galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. Youre a kid. Galatasaray 3-2 HangiKredi mraniyespor MORE. 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 . The bodies were repatriated a few days later, beginning the process of mourning and funerals. Within an hour of the stabbings in central Istanbul, some of David OLearys squad emerged to speak to him. The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. Whether this should dictate a transfer like the one Alioski was asked to ponder is a matter of opinion. Gala is an awful football club and Alioski is an awful footballer. He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. Ridsdale still struggles to accept Galatasarays indifferent reaction to the stabbings. I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. Football riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (May 2000). Galatasaray supporters, despite everything that had gone on, were pelting the buses and trying to smash the windows. [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. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans being banned from attending the second leg in England. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. They reported that as one of them tried to give the kiss of life to Mr Loftus, he was set upon. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The Turkish media blamed the Leeds fans. Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. 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. Loftus had already been pronounced dead and in the melee, hospital staff mistakenly assumed Ridsdale was a relative and took him downstairs to the mortuary. 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. From my point of view I was only interested in getting that game over and done with as safely as possible. Loftuss brother Andy jokes that he had thicker hair back in the day. Give our social media channels a follow . 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. But it was common sense. [48] In 2001, the tribunal ruled in their favour,[49] and ordered Royal Mail to reinstate them. We could only do what we thought was best at that moment. The journey to the stadium prior to kick-off made him wish he had forfeited it and taken the consequences. The loss ofKevin Speight and Christopher Loftus is still felt incredibly deeply and the feud between the clubs remains. As. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. When the press came round, me and my cousin would bounce on my bed to try and get in the photos and in the papers. I am just trying to come to terms with the fact that I have seen a dead body for the first time in 10 years. I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. A lot of what the police were doing was pure intimidation, Fallows says. The Speights were a close family who lived in the Yorkshire village of Farsley, where Kevin Speight was landlord of the Bay Horse pub. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. The authorities imposed sentences on some of those who had originally escaped justice with Suleyman Gokhan Guven, Ali Baydar and Yilmaz Tutus given ten, six and five years in prison respectively. Alioski had less of a cross to bear. And it is far too late to redress that now. Confusion reigned. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. He has never spoken about his memories of Turkey before but, like Andy Loftus, says he wants to reflect 20 years on. Both families come here each April 5, to lay flowers and let another year pass. And I still blame myself a lot.. Hed just met a girl. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. Riots and 2 English deaths around UEFA Cup matches Galatasaray from Turkey against English teams in 2000 Squad Galatasaray This page displays a detailed overview of the club's current squad. Another supporter who tried to resuscitate Chris was hit with batons. 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. I looked at Eddie, he looked at me, we smiled a nervous smile and both said the same thing: Lets go.. 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Andy has paid for the plaque to be cleaned a couple of times and it could do with another polish now. He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. 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. From 5pm local time more than 100 Leeds fans had arrived shouting, singing and demanding beer, according to Batu Dedeler, the bar owner. Scuffles broke out but the police moved in and fans scattered. The 2000 UEFA Cup Final Riots, also known as the Battle of Copenhagen,[1] were a series of riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark between fans of English football team Arsenal and Turkish team Galatasaray around the 2000 UEFA Cup Final on 17 May 2000. He had been in touch with the Turkish authorities, and with Chief Superintendent Steve Matthews from West Yorkshire police, who travels abroad with Leeds fans on away trips, and his team of three or four officers acting as "spotters". [42] Arsenal fans also criticised the police, claiming that they had been slow to intervene and were "too soft" on the hooligans. Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or Death, Sometimes. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . Galatasaray 2-1 Trabzonspor MORE. Six people were arrested and three Metropolitan Police officers were injured. Then you get your head around whats actually happened. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. In the weeks after the deaths, he offered them emotional and financial assistance (the family declined to take any money) and would phone Susan regularly to keep in touch. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. More importantly, we needed to find out what state the two lads were in and whether we could help them.. Istanbul was life and death and more than focusing on Alioski himself, the attention on him generated by the very prospect of a move to Turkey itself should make us ask why it was ever allowed to come to this; a horrific episode which offered no chance of peace or proper closure. [7] The ban was supported by UEFA and only 80 tickets were issued to Galatasaray for officials and representatives of the Turkish government. Will Griffee For Mailonline
#RIPChrisAndKev. 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. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of. My sympathy was with them. They didnt care., The Speights were different and left the criminal cases alone. His financial record at Leeds was dismal and Leeds never forget about it. That deal took Kewell back to a stadium where he and Leeds once needed protection with riot shields. Their policing of City Hall Square in the days running up to the final was described as "non-existent" by Dineen. Demir lost his last appeal in 2010 and was jailed for six years and eight months. If you're Leeds, you don't move to a direct rival, simple. "We did amazing business in one hour.
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