galatasaray leeds death

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 . Follow Phil on Twitter @PhilHay_, George and Holly Speight with Peter Ridsdale after their fathers death. "There's a lot of anger. No one meant for it to happen. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans . I am not sure if the first few expected fighting but I saw one guy running to a telephone to call his friends after he saw the English. 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. [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. 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. The brothers went to the British Embassy but, in Andys words, found them to be worse than useless. 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. 11 Feb 02 | Europe Turkish justice moves slowly . I was totally speechless, totally shocked. BBC News | EUROPE | Turkey still angry over fans' behaviour Sneijder's tweet has since been deleted and the midfielder sent a tweet to an angry fan stating: "Very sorry. Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. 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. I didnt want to do it either. It was a load of shit. 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. The connection was not comparable to Kewells. I didnt want to be standing there telling them what to do and I understood that they didnt want to hear it. Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. Ali Umit . 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. There were reports that a Galatasaray fan had run to a telephone to call for support when he saw Leeds fans arriving. The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. Devastated., The next 24 hours were a blur. The stadium is stuck in a state of eerie silence but this Sunday it will do what it always does on April 5 by standing in salute to the two who were lost. Those April nights were as close as Leeds will get to it. 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. 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 Loftus had flown to watch the match with his brother. 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. From 5pm local time more than 100 Leeds fans had arrived shouting, singing and demanding beer, according to Batu Dedeler, the bar owner. Wed heard that Istanbul could be a bit dangerous but we never thought anything of it, Andy says. I genuinely feared for our lives. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. [48] In 2001, the tribunal ruled in their favour,[49] and ordered Royal Mail to reinstate them. When youre seven you cant process something like that, can you? Man United respond to Leeds hostility with thrilling win as Harry They have nothing but good words for Ridsdales conduct and nothing but gratitude for his support. The security guard who was in Turkey with the clubs players and directors is into his 50s and taking it easy after neck surgery. [38] In Turkey, the media portrayed Galatasaray fans as acting in self-defence, with criticism directed at the British fans for allegedly attacking members of the press. [3] Leeds fans had been drinking in bars reportedly taunting local people and Turkish police intervened to stop fights breaking out. The slit-throat gestures from fans as we arrived on the bus. Andy got a pint at the bar. 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. The police claim he was punched. Everything happened in a flash. 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. 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.". For long periods, none of those found guilty spent time behind bars. They knocked back as much Elfe (lager), Jack Daniels and Bacardi as I could pour.". The police were knocking everyone about, says Paul Holmes, a friend of the Loftuses who was in Taksim Square when the violence broke out. The fan responded: "If you did not know then fair enough but your club certainly did and they should be ashamed of themselves. 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. Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder apologises to Leeds fans over knife set It is regarded as a significant act of betrayal by many fans for a Leeds player to join Galatasaray. Soon, they arrived at a flight of steps and a spot which would generate one of the lasting images of the entire tragedy. More than a dozen police watched but initially did not intervene. [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. Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. 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. ", Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter with the day's key headlines and transfer news straight into your inbox. Tributes began to cover the gates and the Billy Bremner Statue at Elland Road. The second leg was totally different. 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. One of our security lads had to go with the bus to a compound, some sort of a lock-up. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. 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. The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. 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. But he didnt make much of it, like it was something of nothing. 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. He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. 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. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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 like that they remember him. 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. . My sympathy was with them. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. On the 20th anniversary of their deaths, he said: "I suffered quite badly after it happened. [7] The ban was supported by UEFA and only 80 tickets were issued to Galatasaray for officials and representatives of the Turkish government. My dad is ex-World Cup star and BBC pundit but I want glory in a Turkish eye-witnesses accused Leeds fans of insulting women, defacing the Turkish flag, urinating in the street and tipping over a car. Andys last memory of Chris is of him rolling his eyes sarcastically and ribbing him for leaving early, in brotherly style. I think you just go into a downward spiral. Away tickets were limited to 80, which effectively covered only senior Galatasaray officials. 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. Ridsdale still struggles to accept Galatasarays indifferent reaction to the stabbings. I can only go on what my mum said, but my dad was nothing like that. 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. galatasaray leeds death - kikuyajp.com 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. They didnt care., The Speights were different and left the criminal cases alone. 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 Our Daz was there and he told me the full story. It sunk in quickly once we got home. [39] Later on, British media blame also transferred towards Galatasaray fans. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". [30] A Danish police officer[22] and a Turkish cameraman were also injured in the riots. Has to be the biggest DO NOT for any Leeds player!! Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or Give our social media channels a follow . There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. Harry Kewell - Wikipedia Without his help, my mum would have been a bit lost, George says. When he arrived at the hospital, Darren was in a bed with head injuries. 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. 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. ', Some wrote stronger messages, such as: 'Washed my hands with Alioski if he f***s off to those vermin. 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. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. From my point of view I was only interested in getting that game over and done with as safely as possible. Mr Loftus from a plunging wound to his heart; Mr Speight, a few hours later after receiving a wound the length of his stomach. ', By Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. For George, the clearest memories of his dad are few and slightly random. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. Shes struggled with it more than I have because shes got nothing there. Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. Within an hour of the stabbings in central Istanbul, some of David OLearys squad emerged to speak to him. Nicolo Zaniolo signed on a permanent deal MORE. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. And I still blame myself a lot.. Looking at it from where the fans were standing, Id have been as angry as them. 2023 BBC. Rory Carroll in Istanbul and Martin Wainwright. You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare 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. 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. 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. Gala is an awful football club and Alioski is an awful footballer. 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. When they came back to Elland Road they thought our request for no away fans was inappropriate. Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. CATEGORIES . How the violence started is unclear. [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. Every year, the families of Kevin Speight and Chris Loftus place wreathes at the plaque and go together for a drink, to catch up and reflect. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Alioski defended amid Leeds fans' fury over Galatasaray transfer links There isnt much that unnerves me but that was quite a scary moment. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. Massive riots Galatasaray - Leeds / Arsenal 2000 - YouTube British fans were outnumbered and chased up side streets. Will Griffee For Mailonline Send any friend a story. With CCTV evidence, four men were indicted for murder within a week, including Ali Umit Demir, at whose flat the police found a knife stained with the blood of both victims. [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. He wasnt one of them who tried to cause trouble. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. Galatasaray 2-1 Trabzonspor MORE. His brother was following behind us and, quite understandably, he lost it. Everyones different., A brass plaque commemorating Speight and Lofus was set into brickwork outside Elland Road in 2001. Galatasaray 2 - 1 Fraport TAV Antalyaspor MORE. junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . I feel everything: anger, sadness. UEFA also requested that fences be put up around the perimeter of the pitch. [26] There were further clashes at the airport the day after the game. 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. galatasaray leeds death Follow Phil on Twitter @PhilHay_, Leeds players needed protection from police with riot shields before their game against Galatasaray in 2000 (Photo: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images). It is his life and his career, much as the option of Galatasaray was incapable of arising without anyone passing comment. There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". My mum just felt she had to move on. For a couple of days afterwards you run on adrenaline, he says. 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. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. His financial record at Leeds was dismal and Leeds never forget about it. Galatasaray fans attempted to provoke the Arsenal fans in the bars, and the two sides began chanting at each other until bottles were thrown from both sides around 16:00. "They came into town to see. 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. galatasaray leeds death A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. Ill hear them saying, Thats Kevin Speights lad and I like that. It is unobtrusive and reads simply: In memory of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight who died tragically in Istanbul, April 5th 2000. galatasaray leeds death The Galatasaray fans were later attacked from behind by members of British hooligan firms seeking revenge for the Istanbul stabbings. 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. He was with Darren Loftus, Christopher's brother who had travelled with him, to identify his body. He had been up all night receiving news of the stabbings, inflicted during violence which broke out on the eve of a UEFA Cup tie between Leeds and Galatasaray. 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. Football authorities condemned the riots and threatened to expel national football teams from European competition if such events happened again. After a while, Andys eldest brother Phil complained of feeling ill and the two of them decided to go back to their hotel. 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. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. 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. [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. The Turkish police didnt give a shit about us. He had a passion for Lambretta scooters and spent his spare time fixing old models in his mothers garden. 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. Your mind was elsewhere., Harte also felt a delayed reaction. Alioski was not part of that history but the history exists and the real story here far more significant than Alioski or any other footballer per se is the absence of any reconciliation over a night which feels as raw to those who witnessed it now as it did two decades ago; the lasting bitterness produced by a vacuum of empathy. 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. I had no idea where we were going or why we were going there, he says. The Turkish media tried to blame English fans for provoking the violence by being drunk and disrespecting the Turkish flag. So Leeds did. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. 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. (Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt AMA/Getty Images). In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. Both had numerous other wounds. Kewell grew up in Leeds academy and was in the starting line-up for both legs against Galatasaray. Susan chose not to take the children to Speights funeral. The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up." 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. Football is sport here and for many Istanbul residents Galatasaray - who won the league last Sunday - is football. 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. Youre a kid. The police had prior warning of potential trouble and deployed 2,000 officers to the area, yet they were unable to control the riot until they fired tear gas. ", Jack Connolly added: "That Wesley Sneijder knife launch is disgusting, scum of the earth.". For me, it didnt feel real. Speight and Loftus were not close friends but knew each other in passing, as travelling football fans do. Try a week on us. [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. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. [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. I got arrested which was a bad thing but also a good thing. The complication here is that football has no right to dictate how people manage a grievance that goes so far beyond standard rivalry. [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. I thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. Anyone can read what . [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. You got paid each month and you did this, Andy says, gesturing as if to push a wad of banknotes into a drawer. "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 feel sorry for her, George says. I could see in their faces how much they were raging, Fallows says. OFFICIAL DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE MORE. The Ibrox disaster was a tragedy, an accident, he says. Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder launches knife range - mirror Demir lost his last appeal in 2010 and was jailed for six years and eight months. After a long legal process in Turkey, four men were jailed in 2010. 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. 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. I dont want to imply criticism of the hospital for that, Ridsdale says. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Leeds supporters in Istanbul were told to stay in their hotels. [37] Leeds United also banned three of their fans from Elland Road after they had been identified in pictures of the riots. Galatasaray advance to Ziraat Trkiye Kupas . 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. The images of that never grow old. lisa left eye zodiac sign Search. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. At this juncture, it should be said that Kewell and Alioski were not identical. [20], Then, in a calculated attack, approximately 500 Arsenal fans[19] attacked from the main road behind the Galatasaray fans. Galatasaray supporters, despite everything that had gone on, were pelting the buses and trying to smash the windows. He has never spoken about his memories of Turkey before but, like Andy Loftus, says he wants to reflect 20 years on. Squad Galatasaray This page displays a detailed overview of the club's current squad. 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. I went off the rails, he says. The day after the riots, FA Executive Director David Davies, issued an apology for the violence. Another picture, taken by the Yorkshire Evening Posts Mark Bickerdike, shows Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate stepping from the tunnel with tangible shock on their faces. ', While a third posted: 'They suit each other. Theyd been seeing each other for about six months.. Right up to the attack, I didnt see any trouble. Other fans in Istanbul spoke of isolated incidents here and there but nothing serious. In its opinion, contesting the game was the least worst option. The death of the two Leeds fans in street fighting in central Istanbul on Wednesday turned Galatasaray's Ali Sami Yen Stadium into an armed camp, with 10,000 police patrolling in and around the . Leeds fans RAGING at Ezgjan Alioski transfer links to Galatasaray What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? He liked a drink and a laugh, simple as that, Andy says. The bodies were repatriated a few days later, beginning the process of mourning and funerals. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. 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?

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