To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. The interview included vague expressions of regret but no apology to Speight and Loftus or their relatives. 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. At no stage between arriving at the hospital and Leeds playing the first leg against Galatasaray the following night did Ridsdale sleep. The blood had to be sourced externally and to do that, someone had to pay. 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. Their policing of City Hall Square in the days running up to the final was described as "non-existent" by Dineen. The shadow of Istanbul is longer for Andy Loftus. So Leeds did. The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. 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. By that stage he was exhausted. Twenty Leeds fans, witnesses to the fight, were interviewed. 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 thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. The families of the victims will tell you that. Over a coffee in Starbucks, George Speight finds a way to be philosophical about his fathers death. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. 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. [7] The ban was supported by UEFA and only 80 tickets were issued to Galatasaray for officials and representatives of the Turkish government. We werent talking about Leeds General Infirmary. Speights treatment failed to save him. [4] Police arrested Ali Umit Demir and three other men for the stabbings. George is aware of some of the details but has tried not to dig too deeply. [6] Demir was later found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, but released in 2004. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans being banned from attending the second leg in England. The Loftus family gave up on campaigning for justice in Turkey because they did not think the system cared about them. Andy got a pint at the bar. Those April nights were as close as Leeds will get to it. "This was a premeditated attack," said Steve Wilkinson, who suffered knife wounds to one leg and a wound to his hand. In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. [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. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. 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. "Once more English hooligans, once more, blood," said the mainstream Hurriyet newspaper. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. This morning the Dutch international tweeted: "Finally my GalatasaraySK knife set is now available and can be delivered everywhere.". Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. Its a strange thing but its important to me. He wasnt one of them who tried to cause trouble. My sympathy was with them. 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. Ridsdale can visualise it all 21 years on: the lay-out of the hospital, the chaos inside, the panicked confusion. He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. 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. It is unobtrusive and reads simply: In memory of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight who died tragically in Istanbul, April 5th 2000. 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. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. The brothers went to the British Embassy but, in Andys words, found them to be worse than useless. The Loftuses fought for justice for as long as they could. 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. 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. 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. Our Daz was there and he told me the full story. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. George understands why but wishes with hindsight that he had been there. And it is far too late to redress that now. It might be fair to say that the events of 2000 are a reason to dissuade a footballer with ties to Leeds from engaging with Galatasaray but not necessarily to prohibit him from signing, especially as time goes by. Mr Loftus's brother Andy said: "I know it may seem a long time but it's still very much like yesterday really.". Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Thats just how the system worked. Others that the Turks precipitated it by throwing chairs. The away crowd emptied after Rangers late equaliser without realising what had unfolded inside the ground. He has a busy job as an electrician and a twinkle in his eye. [20], After the match, which Galatasaray won 41 on penalties, approximately 300 Arsenal fans in the Finsbury Park area of Islington in London attacked Turkish restaurants and businesses, with bottles being used to break windows. But it was common sense. 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. [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. [27], At Parken Stadium, where the final was to be played, the police erected iron fencing outside to separate the Arsenal and Galatasaray fans as a precaution. zhuri james net worth 2021 / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes There were reports that a Galatasaray fan had run to a telephone to call for support when he saw Leeds fans arriving. For players and supporters alike, this has become one of the most fraught and difficult venues in Europe. Convictions were quashed, appeals were repetitive and it is far from clear how much of their respective sentences were served. 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. . By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. 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. Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. Ali Sami Yen stadium should even go ahead. Theyd turned on their tellies and it was all over the Turkish news, Fallows says. [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. I cant explain it but I got this weird feeling, he says. When they landed at Leeds-Bradford airport, a Leeds United club car was waiting to pick them up from the runaway, avoiding the cameras waiting inside. Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. Ali Umit Demir, was arrested by Turkish police within days and he and three other Turks were later convicted in court. Uefa, after consultation with the clubs and the Turkish authorities, wavered but eventually decided to go ahead. Its a game. George has no recollection of his dad leaving for Istanbul or of him saying goodbye. 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. 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. Football riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (May 2000). Sneijder's tweet has since been deleted and the midfielder sent a tweet to an angry fan stating: "Very sorry. They phoned their parents back home but the media had already informed them of Chriss death. lisa left eye zodiac sign Search. Given that context and these examples only really scratch the surface of everything that happened in April 2000 there was no way in which a player like Gjanni Alioski could consider leaving Leeds and joining Galatasaray, as he did for many months, without bracing himself for a tense political path and the objection he encountered online. It sounds daft but I dont think I knew how to react. 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. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. 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. And worse things too. And I still blame myself a lot.. [28] In Turkey, nine people were accidentally shot and injured by Galatasaray fans firing guns in celebration despite police warning them not to. Something went wrong, please try again later. It felt to me like the police were trying to frighten us, he says. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. 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. [23] The violence, which included fans from other English clubs[24] and Turks living in Denmark,[25] lasted for 45 minutes. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. 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. Friends and family of Speight and Loftus had congregated there and other Leeds fans were waiting with more minor injuries, some of them slash wounds. 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. It was a haunting moment then and it haunts me now. 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. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. 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. My mum struggled massively with it all and she still does now, George says. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". He sees it now as a necessary shock to the system. Alioski had less of a cross to bear. Andy Loftus had flown to watch the match with his brother. They felt we were overreacting and on the day of the game in Istanbul there was no attempt to make sure the match passed off safely or securely, not that I could see. on the 20th anniversary of the killings in Istanbul. He was eight when the deaths occurred and he was 25 when he came to England as a professional. The way the police and the authorities were with us. Football is sport here and for many Istanbul residents Galatasaray - who won the league last Sunday - is football. 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. [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. Spencer stepped in and paid with his personal credit card. But when it came to Istanbul, he and the club were remarkable in reacting quickly and with compassion. [25] The British fans were later released without charge but were forbidden from returning to Denmark. I respect the Loftuses for fighting, 100 per cent. They stressed as delicately as they could the importance of staying indoors. [48] In 2001, the tribunal ruled in their favour,[49] and ordered Royal Mail to reinstate them. We tried to keep a lot of the information about what had happened [to Speight and Loftus] from them, rightly or wrongly. He had a passion for Lambretta scooters and spent his spare time fixing old models in his mothers garden. Life is good. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. 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. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. It is 10 years since he last went to the grave. 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. 11 Feb 02 | Europe Turkish justice moves slowly . I dont know why.. My sisters had a word and told me to sort myself out. It is his life and his career, much as the option of Galatasaray was incapable of arising without anyone passing comment. Im not sure Ive even processed it now. Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. His most recent role as a club manager was at English National League side Barnet, and he is currently a first team coach at Celtic.. As a player, Kewell represented Leeds United, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al-Gharafa and Melbourne Heart. A lot of what went on I dont want to know. Matt White tweeted: "Wesley Sneijder tweeting a personalised Galatasaray knife set on the 15th anniversary of the murder of 2 Leeds fans in Istanbul? He just happened to run into some tossers with knives., George was so young that the aftermath almost strayed into boyhood adventure. [18] Arsenal fans congregated in nearby bars. 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. 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 . I like that they remember him. My mum always says the same: Hed gone out there for the football, nothing else. 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. The cause of the fighting which broke out after dark in Istanbul was a subject of fierce contention in the weeks after the stabbings. For long periods, none of those found guilty spent time behind bars. I didnt feel that their response was what our response would have been. 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. 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. It is regarded as a significant act of betrayal by many fans for a Leeds player to join Galatasaray. There isnt much that unnerves me but that was quite a scary moment. Gala is an awful football club and Alioski is an awful footballer. Hello Hell, We Are Leeds, read one banner carried by fans piling through Istanbul airport on Wednesday night. The connection was not comparable to Kewells. The first time he went inside to be present, he sat with friends and cried. Ridsdale still struggles to accept Galatasarays indifferent reaction to the stabbings. 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. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans . Galatasaray wanted me from the start. But in the light of day, the sun hits it and the sparkle lingers. If someone could have shown me those levels of intimidation, Id have refused to play the game unhesitatingly. 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. For me, it didnt feel real. 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. One wrote: 'If Alioski goes there, his high regard and reputation with Leeds fans is destroyed!! [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. They will never be forgotten.. 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. Even so, the counterargument holds water. When youre seven you cant process something like that, can you? Trust us, this is only going to get worse., It didnt go down well, and I got that. 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. But eventually the issue of what to do about the game had to be addressed. 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 Turkish media tried to blame English fans for provoking the violence by being drunk and disrespecting the Turkish flag. The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. Looking at it from where the fans were standing, Id have been as angry as them. Bitexen Giresunspor 0 - 4 Galatasaray MORE. 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. [18] Later, large numbers of Galatasaray fans congregated in Copenhagen's City Hall Square, raising the Turkish flag in the square. He must have been off his head., Ian Harte, the left-back, is more vivid in describing it. "We came out of a bar and there were 100 people waiting for us with machetes, knives, bits of chair and table legs and they just attacked us. 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. Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or Death, Sometimes. The Turkish police didnt give a shit about us. Can you list the top facts and stats about 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence? Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Andys last memory of Chris is of him rolling his eyes sarcastically and ribbing him for leaving early, in brotherly style. The manager of Leeds, David O'Leary, had voiced fears of being met at the airport by "a 100-strong rentamob". For George, the clearest memories of his dad are few and slightly random. 12/02/2021 . Kewell grew up in Leeds academy and was in the starting line-up for both legs against Galatasaray. Six people were arrested and three Metropolitan Police officers were injured. 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. "They came into town to see. According to one witness, a Turkish man was pushed to the ground and smashed his teeth on the pavement. ', And: 'Alioski can f*** off, he obviously knows the history between the two clubs.'. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. The first the Leeds players heard of the incident in Taksim Square was when phone calls started reaching them in their hotel. Give our social media channels a follow . He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. Those killed were "attackers", it said. At the hotel, Phil went up to his room. "I haven't seen a single Englishman all day," said a newspaper vendor. 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Gray, a Glaswegian, was in the Celtic end with his wife Linda on the day of the Ibrox disaster in 1971. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. You mention him over Farsley way and people respect him. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. The Turkish. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. In the circumstances, it was a total irrelevance and too highly-charged. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. Galatasaray accused him of trying to gain an unfair sporting advantage. Tributes began to cover the gates and the Billy Bremner Statue at Elland Road. They had been a couple since their teens. They all say no. They ordered us to pump up the volume, so we did," said Mr Dedeler, 24. 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. [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. 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. 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 seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. In 2014 he was spoken to by a Turkish website, a free man again. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. 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. 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. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. 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. Harry Kewell is in front of him, carrying a ball and looking bewildered. Mr Loftus from a plunging wound to his heart; Mr Speight, a few hours later after receiving a wound the length of his stomach. This led to the two Leeds fans being stabbed. As injured and angry Leeds fans came through, he did what he could. I can only go on what my mum said, but my dad was nothing like that. 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. We tried to raise awareness but it was a farce. 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. It was a lad from Shipley who I knew, Andy says. 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. 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. galatasaray leeds deathashtoreth worship practices. Devastated., The next 24 hours were a blur. Will Griffee For Mailonline I dont want to imply criticism of the hospital for that, Ridsdale says. "They were using very bad language," said Abdul Garlad, a manager. 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. The police were doing nothing to stop them. You dont get it.. Obviously he liked his football too. A lot of what the police were doing was pure intimidation, Fallows says. The eggs were massive and I was chuffed to bits with mine, he says. [10] It was reported that members of Leeds United's Leeds United Service Crew[11] and Chelsea's Chelsea Headhunters, along with hooligans supporting Rangers, Cardiff City and Swansea City all travelled to Denmark to join Arsenal fans in attacks on Galatasaray fans. "It's just a bit of a rollercoaster ride really but we get by," he said. I could see in their faces how much they were raging, Fallows says. It was how away days in Europe played out. But the Leeds fans do not see it that way. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. Try a week on us. Speights son, George, is no longer the cheeky kid with floppy hair smiling brightly in the photograph of his father he digs out. That decision drew much criticism, as well it might. 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. junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . The Turkish side are hated by those at Elland Road after two travelling fans were stabbed to.