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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. I dont think a single one of the lads wanted to play that night.. We looked up the steps and all you could see at the top was the dark sky and riot shields around the entrance to the pitch. The brothers went to the British Embassy but, in Andys words, found them to be worse than useless. Try a week on us. Without his help, my mum would have been a bit lost, George says. They felt we were overreacting. In all the many layers of anger, that was one of them; the apparent inability to adopt some common decency. , updated Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare them.. It is regarded as a significant act of betrayal by many fans for a Leeds player to join Galatasaray. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. How the violence started is unclear. Then you turn around and Kevin and Chris are lying there., In the hospitals waiting area, Andy overheard a voice saying that one of the fatalities was one of the four brothers. [48] In 2001, the tribunal ruled in their favour,[49] and ordered Royal Mail to reinstate them. There were reports that a Galatasaray fan had run to a telephone to call for support when he saw Leeds fans arriving. I got a lot of abuse for that and no wonder. 12/02/2021 . As always you can unsubscribe at any time. His brother was following behind us and, quite understandably, he lost it. Football is sport here and for many Istanbul residents Galatasaray - who won the league last Sunday - is football. My mum flicked it straight off again. Disgusting. There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. They ploughed on regardless, much like UEFA, and left Ridsdale thinking that their directors were more worried about distancing themselves from the stabbings than helping Leeds cope with them. It is his life and his career, much as the option of Galatasaray was incapable of arising without anyone passing comment. [30] In total, nineteen people were injured and sixty people were arrested,[27] with 15 of the arrested being subsequently banned from attending Euro 2000. 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'. Theyd been seeing each other for about six months.. Though the versions of Leeds fans and Turkish witnesses are almost entirely at odds, it appears the trouble started in the city's entertainment district outside the Riddim reggae bar in Buyuk Parmakkapi Street. (Main photo of Kevin Speight with his son George and daughter Holly). By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. [4], It was not clear how the fight started, with reports of it either being started by Leeds fans throwing beer glasses and insulting the Turkish flag,[5] or being started by Galatasaray fans throwing chairs. Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. 11 Feb 02 | Europe Turkish justice moves slowly . My sisters had a word and told me to sort myself out. junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . Something went wrong, please try again later. I say that as someone who was back at his hotel when the stabbings occurred, he would be one of the last people to blame. Galatasaray wanted me from the start. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. 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 . Holmes says Andy was the life and soul of the party before Istanbul but the impact of Chriss death was severe. He has never spoken about his memories of Turkey before but, like Andy Loftus, says he wants to reflect 20 years on. By 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. 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. [25] The British fans were later released without charge but were forbidden from returning to Denmark. My instinct was that we had to know what was happening, Ridsdale says. 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. No one meant for it to happen. "Maybe they thought they were being funny but to Turks who do not speak good English, it was very offensive.". on the 20th anniversary of the killings in Istanbul. At this juncture, it should be said that Kewell and Alioski were not identical. In fact, the Leeds United supporters, arriving for the first leg of their Uefa Cup semi-final with Galatasaray, were at first greeted in a way which mostly belied the Welcome to Hell banners which have traditionally greeted English teams there. No question.. For a couple of days afterwards you run on adrenaline, he says. But the Leeds fans do not see it that way. [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. A streetwise Mancunian, he has looked after Oasis, Noel Gallagher and Take That and on the morning when we speak hes at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, organising staff for a gig by The Script. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. They had been a couple since their teens. 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. [26] There were further clashes at the airport the day after the game. It also contains a table with average age, cumulative market value and average market value for each player position and overall. It was a load of shit. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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 started shouting for Christopher to wake up. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? 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. 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. The slit-throat gestures from fans as we arrived on the bus. Im not sure Ive even processed it now. It was totally deliberate. For some of it we were relying on the police and the authorities without knowing if they were going to do the right things. Before England played Turkey in a European Championship qualifier in Istanbul in 2003, Englands staff got in touch with Fallows to ask for logistical advice. The driver said hed turn it off but I wanted to listen to it. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. I went off the rails, he says. The images are so vivid in Peter Ridsdales mind that he can describe every aspect of the hospital where Speight and Loftus were taken after they were attacked. The atmosphere was electric like, scarily electric. For me, it didnt feel real. Over a coffee in Starbucks, George Speight finds a way to be philosophical about his fathers death. George has no recollection of his dad leaving for Istanbul or of him saying goodbye. [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. I had no idea where we were going or why we were going there, he says. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans . 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. Your choice, the official replied. He had been involved in the plane crash which Leeds players and coaches escaped from on the way home from a Premier League game at West Ham United in 1998. "Once more English hooligans, once more, blood," said the mainstream Hurriyet newspaper. Mr Loftus from a plunging wound to his heart; Mr Speight, a few hours later after receiving a wound the length of his stomach. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. 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. Convention required the directors of the clubs involved in a European tie to share a meal with UEFA delegates the night before the game and Galatasaray arranged the gathering, not far from the Kempinski Hotel where Leedss players and directors were staying. [39] Later on, British media blame also transferred towards Galatasaray fans. Menu The Galatasaray fans were later attacked from behind by members of British hooligan firms seeking revenge for the Istanbul stabbings. Galatasaray 2 - 1 Fraport TAV Antalyaspor MORE. The set of knives, emblazoned with Galatasaray's colours, are produced by Dutch firm Senvi and are available for 22. British fans were outnumbered and chased up side streets. The Turkish side are hated by those at Elland Road after two travelling fans were stabbed to death by Galatasaray supporters prior to the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000. When the second leg came round, in the dressing room we were trying to say, Come on, lets get stuck into them. But in the back of your mind youre putting football aside. The images of that never grow old. And others, like Eddie Gray and Ian Harte, have moved on with their lives. There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. The first I knew of it was when they came out to tell me. Susan chose not to take the children to Speights funeral. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. 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. That is true. I feel everything: anger, sadness. Witnesses said he had been bludgeoned by police as he cradled a dying Chris in the street. I knew the ramifications would be life-long.. George is aware of some of the details but has tried not to dig too deeply. Association with the tragedy can be difficult. Leeds had taken over an entire corridor at the five-star Kempinski and the squad were in their rooms, ready to sleep ahead of the game the next night. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. After a long legal process in Turkey, four men were jailed in 2010. It triggered something and I ran into the ward. 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. 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. For long periods, none of those found guilty spent time behind bars. Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. ', While a third posted: 'They suit each other. Later in the day, Galatasaray fans occupied City Hall Square before heading towards Arsenal fans in bars nearby. 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. To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up." Manchester United and Chelsea had contested European ties at the 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. 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 I still blame myself a lot.. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans being banned from attending the second leg in England. At the time he said: 'It was a tragic thing in football but we can't live in the past. And many have voiced their opinion on social media following a report by Football Insider that Alioski has agreed a pre-contract to join the rivals in the summer. 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. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. I spent the whole night thinking, What are we doing here? And when the Leeds fans turned their backs to the pitch, total respect to them because the football meant nothing. A fortnight ago, Ridsdale was voted onto the EFLs board. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. It is wrong to presume to tell those who were affected by the events in Istanbul how to feel or how to react to a player taking Galatasarays money. Speight was with a group of Leeds fans attacked by Turkish locals outside a bar by Istanbuls Taksim Square, sustaining a slash wound to his stomach. George understands why but wishes with hindsight that he had been there. 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. The police told us themselves that the shoe-shine boys had been trailing us for a while, waiting to see when some of us had split away from the main group.. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Those killed were "attackers", it said. And there was the time when Speight took him to Elland Road and George, in his infancy, mistakenly cheered when the opposition scored. The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. 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. There is very little about the football which Ridsdale cares to remember and at the 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. Even so, the counterargument holds water. [37], In the United Kingdom, Arsenal fans were originally blamed for the violence as the police had fixed blame on them. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. The Loftus family gave up on campaigning for justice in Turkey because they did not think the system cared about them. Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. He was seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. [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]. I think those who arrived later knew what to expect.". [7] The ban was supported by UEFA and only 80 tickets were issued to Galatasaray for officials and representatives of the Turkish government. 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]. 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. [42] Arsenal fans also criticised the police, claiming that they had been slow to intervene and were "too soft" on the hooligans. Andys last memory of Chris is of him rolling his eyes sarcastically and ribbing him for leaving early, in brotherly style. Others that the Turks precipitated it by throwing chairs. It didnt sit right with me. "They came into town to see. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. 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. galatasaray leeds deathashtoreth worship practices. Staff said many fans were drunk by 10pm, intimidating Turkish families drinking in the lounge. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. The Turkish police didnt give a shit about us. Leeds and Galatasaray have an extremely volatile relationship following the death of two Leeds supporters prior to the UEFA CUp semi-final back in 2000. My mum struggled massively with it all and she still does now, George says. They all say no. A group of rival fans gathered and jeers were exchanged. It was only when Gray arrived home that his parents asked if he was OK and told him about the many Rangers fans who had died. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. Sneijder's tweet has since been deleted and the midfielder sent a tweet to an angry fan stating: "Very sorry. Within an hour of the stabbings in central Istanbul, some of David OLearys squad emerged to speak to him. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 13:02 EST 23 Mar 2021 "Kevin had two young children. Loftus, 35, was a telephone engineer and an easy-going lad. 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. My mum always says the same: Hed gone out there for the football, nothing else. Forty Leeds fans arrested in the scuffles were released without charge. In the case of Loftus brother Andy, he prefers not to make a big deal of his surname for fear of the questions that might follow; the feeling of being always on show. By that stage he was exhausted. 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. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". Everything happened in a flash. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Everyones different., A brass plaque commemorating Speight and Lofus was set into brickwork outside Elland Road in 2001. Within minutes, a pitched battle erupted. 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Youre a kid. Right up to the attack, I didnt see any trouble. Other fans in Istanbul spoke of isolated incidents here and there but nothing serious. I respect the Loftuses for fighting, 100 per cent. The blood had to be sourced externally and to do that, someone had to pay. 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. That decision drew much criticism, as well it might. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 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. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. [17] This came after Arsenal had warned the police before the final that there could be hooligans travelling to Copenhagen. The manager of Leeds, David O'Leary, had voiced fears of being met at the airport by "a 100-strong rentamob". I heard the rumours that some Leeds fan wiped his arse with a Turkey flag and things like that but people tell me none of its true. The police were doing nothing to stop them. He was with Darren Loftus, Christopher's brother who had travelled with him, to identify his body. The city centre was tense but, thanks to a massive police presence, mainly empty. Leeds always kept records of who was travelling and which hotels they were using. Thats just how the system worked. They carried beer glasses outside, we couldn't stop them, and others followed." But if you back out, youll forfeit the game and incur a 3-0 defeat. I could see in their faces how much they were raging, Fallows says. Riots and 2 English deaths around UEFA Cup matches Galatasaray from Turkey against English teams in 2000 In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. For Leedss staff and players, the details of what had occurred in Taksim Square the night before remained sketchy until after full-time. 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". 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. Its funny what sticks in your head, he says. Has to be the biggest DO NOT for any Leeds player!! Trust us, this is only going to get worse., It didnt go down well, and I got that. "There was nothing in the days running up to this match to suggest there would be this level of violence," Mr Hunt said. It was a haunting moment then and it haunts me now. CATEGORIES . You dont get it.. Wesley Sneijder, a Dutch international who . It sunk in quickly once we got home. Galatasaray football player Wesley Sneijder has released a commemorative knife set - on the 15th anniversary of the fatal stabbing of two Leeds fans by Turkish supporters. galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. The eggs were massive and I was chuffed to bits with mine, he says. At the hotel, Phil went up to his room. I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. As chairman of Leeds, he told the UEFA official that it would make sense to postpone the first leg of the semi-final which Leeds and Galatasaray were about to play. Rory Carroll in Istanbul and Martin Wainwright. This led to the two Leeds fans being stabbed. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. Whether this should dictate a transfer like the one Alioski was asked to ponder is a matter of opinion. But he didnt make much of it, like it was something of nothing. When the Turkish club flew over for the return leg two weeks later, an occasion as venomous and bitter as any Elland Road has hosted, they railed against Ridsdales request that their fans be banned from travelling. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; a huge occasion for the club in a football sense, Ridsdale says. It wasnt a proper A&E unit. People speak well of him. 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. But he was not and the atmosphere was initially warmer than normal. And it is far too late to redress that now. If someone could have shown me those levels of intimidation, Id have refused to play the game unhesitatingly. They have nothing but good words for Ridsdales conduct and nothing but gratitude for his support. When youre seven you cant process something like that, can you? We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. Some headed for the James Joyce pub 200 metres away and joined a sing-song against Galatasaray. Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . 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. Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. I think you just go into a downward spiral. Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. [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. Those April nights were as close as Leeds will get to it. The Ibrox disaster was a tragedy, an accident, he says. Later in the evening, a group of around 20 Leeds supporters broke off and found their way to the Riddim bar near Taksim Square, the huge expanse in the centre of Istanbul which was filled with places to eat and drink. 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. The Danish police were also criticized for their mishandling of the riots. I can only go on what my mum said, but my dad was nothing like that. The first time he went inside to be present, he sat with friends and cried. They stressed as delicately as they could the importance of staying indoors. [2] People know me because of my dad, he says. Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located.