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I knew the ramifications would be life-long.. It was a haunting moment then and it haunts me now. "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.". 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. 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[42] Arsenal fans also criticised the police, claiming that they had been slow to intervene and were "too soft" on the hooligans. They then broke into an apartment building to threaten Kosovan refugees with a knife, mistakenly believing them to be Turkish. Gala is an awful football club and Alioski is an awful footballer. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. Others that the Turks precipitated it by throwing chairs. [28] In Turkey, nine people were accidentally shot and injured by Galatasaray fans firing guns in celebration despite police warning them not to. [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. . Its completely different. Within an hour of the stabbings in central Istanbul, some of David OLearys squad emerged to speak to him. [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. 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. 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. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. George is different. Later in the day, Galatasaray fans occupied City Hall Square before heading towards Arsenal fans in bars nearby. I dont know if the club encouraged them to do that but you were well aware of objects hitting the shields. George has no recollection of his dad leaving for Istanbul or of him saying goodbye. It wasnt a proper A&E unit. It didnt sit right with me. 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. Football authorities condemned the riots and threatened to expel national football teams from European competition if such events happened again. Bits of Istanbul werent in control. Follow Phil on Twitter @PhilHay_, George and Holly Speight with Peter Ridsdale after their fathers death. 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. 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. OFFICIAL DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE MORE. Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder. Wed spoken about doing something beforehand, he says. Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or Death, Sometimes. Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. We werent talking about Leeds General Infirmary. Speights treatment failed to save him. 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. [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. Andy Loftus had flown to watch the match with his brother. 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. And it is far too late to redress that now. 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. Everything was muddled. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. Forty Leeds fans arrested in the scuffles were released without charge. [18] Later, large numbers of Galatasaray fans congregated in Copenhagen's City Hall Square, raising the Turkish flag in the square. By that stage he was exhausted. Theyd been seeing each other for about six months.. [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. 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. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. 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. 12/02/2021 . The English FA followed the line of least resistance. The second leg was totally different. We tried to keep a lot of the information about what had happened [to Speight and Loftus] from them, rightly or wrongly. Leeds supporters in Istanbul were told to stay in their hotels. From my point of view I was only interested in getting that game over and done with as safely as possible. The loss ofKevin Speight and Christopher Loftus is still felt incredibly deeply and the feud between the clubs remains. The story goes that he and his wife Susan got together after he offered her a lift on the back of one. After a while, Andys eldest brother Phil complained of feeling ill and the two of them decided to go back to their hotel. Through different eyes and different viewpoints, a picture built up of the disregard and indifference with which they had been treated by those they looked to for help. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. galatasaray leeds deathashtoreth worship practices. By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. 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. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. Obviously he liked his football too. There was no minutes silence or acknowledgement of the deaths. Galatasaray 2 - 1 Fraport TAV Antalyaspor MORE. When youre seven you cant process something like that, can you? Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. She knows who he was but its not the same.. One minute youre coming out of a bar, the next youve got people running to attack you. Kevin Fallows was the clubs head of security and travelled with the players to all their fixtures in Europe. But it was common sense. It is unobtrusive and reads simply: In memory of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight who died tragically in Istanbul, April 5th 2000. Confusion reigned. They ordered us to pump up the volume, so we did," said Mr Dedeler, 24. 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. Im not sure Ive even processed it now. I thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. 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. Football is sport here and for many Istanbul residents Galatasaray - who won the league last Sunday - is football. 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. The security guard who was in Turkey with the clubs players and directors is into his 50s and taking it easy after neck surgery. 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. ', While a third posted: 'They suit each other. [6] Demir was later found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, but released in 2004. Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. Anywhere else in Europe, I doubt it would have been played. 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. [3] Leeds fans had been drinking in bars reportedly taunting local people and Turkish police intervened to stop fights breaking out. And thats without even mentioning what had gone on the night before with the two lads who were killed. I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. Its a game. It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed. How the violence started is unclear. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. My mum always says the same: Hed gone out there for the football, nothing else. That deal took Kewell back to a stadium where he and Leeds once needed protection with riot shields. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Loftuss brother Andy jokes that he had thicker hair back in the day. 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. "This was a premeditated attack," said Steve Wilkinson, who suffered knife wounds to one leg and a wound to his hand. Their policing of City Hall Square in the days running up to the final was described as "non-existent" by Dineen. I think you just go into a downward spiral. Jesus. Past present or future..', A second added: 'Would much rather see one of the u23s get a chance at lb than Alioski for the rest of the season. 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. Bitexen Giresunspor 0 - 4 Galatasaray MORE. (Main photo of Kevin Speight with his son George and daughter Holly). My instinct was that we had to know what was happening, Ridsdale says. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. The connection was not comparable to Kewells. You dont get it.. Harry Kewell (born 22 September 1978) is an Australian association football coach, manager and former player. [23] The violence, which included fans from other English clubs[24] and Turks living in Denmark,[25] lasted for 45 minutes. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". 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.". Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. [19] The Danish police then moved in to separate the fans, and moved the Galatasaray fans back towards the square. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. He liked a drink and a laugh, simple as that, Andy says. Everything happened in a flash. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. We switched on the telly and it was all over the news, George says. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. 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. ', And: 'Alioski can f*** off, he obviously knows the history between the two clubs.'. If the thought of a transfer like that sits uncomfortably then perhaps it should. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. Loftus, 35, was a telephone engineer and an easy-going lad. Twenty Leeds fans, witnesses to the fight, were interviewed. I dont think, even to this day, that Galatasaray would see the amount of press coverage or criticism as being fairly labelled against them, Ridsdale said last year. 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. Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. galatasaray leeds death. 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. . There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. I dont think, even to this day, that Galatasaray would see the amount of press coverage or criticism as being fairly labelled against them, Risdale says. 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. 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. But in the light of day, the sun hits it and the sparkle lingers. George is aware of some of the details but has tried not to dig too deeply. 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. [37] Leeds United also banned three of their fans from Elland Road after they had been identified in pictures of the riots. They didnt care., The Speights were different and left the criminal cases alone. He must have been off his head., Ian Harte, the left-back, is more vivid in describing it. Some headed for the James Joyce pub 200 metres away and joined a sing-song against Galatasaray. Galatasaray wanted me from the start. I dont know why.. The Galatasaray fans were later attacked from behind by members of British hooligan firms seeking revenge for the Istanbul stabbings. Acquittal plea in soccer death trial. The first I knew of it was when they came out to tell me. Welcome to Hell, Galatasaray liked to say. 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. Amid the fall-out and a world of shock in Leeds, Ridsdale suggested that the second leg at Elland Road would be safer without away fans. galatasaray leeds death. ", "They came to kill; Turk fans arm for war", "Arsenal worried about hooligans at UEFA Cup", "First class thugs; Postmen are caught in Copenhagen football rampage", "Post Office refuses to reinstate worker", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2000_UEFA_Cup_Final_riots&oldid=1113653919, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 October 2022, at 15:57. Send any friend a story. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. [20], Then, in a calculated attack, approximately 500 Arsenal fans[19] attacked from the main road behind the Galatasaray fans. 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. 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. By Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. It was completely against your idea of law and order. 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. By then, you knew exactly what had gone on and you knew the severity of it. The Ibrox disaster was a tragedy, an accident, he says. He sees it now as a necessary shock to the system. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; "a huge occasion for the club in a football sense," Ridsdale says. They carried beer glasses outside, we couldn't stop them, and others followed." 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. 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. 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]. I was totally speechless, totally shocked. 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. Tributes began to cover the gates and the Billy Bremner Statue at Elland Road. He just happened to run into some tossers with knives., George was so young that the aftermath almost strayed into boyhood adventure. Former club legend Harry Kewell previously soured his relationship with Leeds fans after moving to Galatasaray from Liverpool in 2008. You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare them.. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of. So Leeds did. Matt White tweeted: "Wesley Sneijder tweeting a personalised Galatasaray knife set on the 15th anniversary of the murder of 2 Leeds fans in Istanbul? Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Hello Hell, We Are Leeds, read one banner carried by fans piling through Istanbul airport on Wednesday night. He was with Darren Loftus, Christopher's brother who had travelled with him, to identify his body. To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. Youre a kid. 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. Who really cares?. I went off the rails, he says. #RIPChrisAndKev. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? I think those who arrived later knew what to expect.". Within minutes, a pitched battle erupted. The families of the victims will tell you that. "Kevin had two young children. It's a fantastic city and I'm willing to learn. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. ", Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter with the day's key headlines and transfer news straight into your inbox. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. Leeds always kept records of who was travelling and which hotels they were using. But the Leeds fans do not see it that way. It was how away days in Europe played out. He was taken to identify the other, Chris Loftus, in the morgue after doctors mistook him for a family member. 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. For me, it didnt feel real. Witnesses said he had been bludgeoned by police as he cradled a dying Chris in the street. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? My mum struggled massively with it all and she still does now, George says. Even now I get the feeling that people think we started it, Andy says. The plaque on the wall by Elland Roads East Stand says Never Forgotten and Leeds United swore themselves to those words. Bouncers guarded the bars from any English fans. 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. 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). The first time he went inside to be present, he sat with friends and cried. 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. I cant explain it but I got this weird feeling, he says. 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. I am happy and I hope everyone else can be too. 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 Turkish media tried to blame English fans for provoking the violence by being drunk and disrespecting the Turkish flag. Association with the tragedy can be difficult. Has to be the biggest DO NOT for any Leeds player!! Without his help, my mum would have been a bit lost, George says. As a free agent, he had a decision to make about how best to look after himself with his 30th birthday coming next year (and in the end, looking after himself meant joining Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia last night). If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. The day after the riots, FA Executive Director David Davies, issued an apology for the violence. 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. When they came back to Elland Road they thought our request for no away fans was inappropriate. Galatasaray 3-2 HangiKredi mraniyespor MORE. Our Daz was there and he told me the full story. 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. By 10.30pm some of the rowdiest fans left the James Joyce and joined a crowd outside McDonalds just off Taksim Square. 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. The potential for trouble was as high as anything Id been involved in. Within a year, however, Demir, following an appeal, was a free man after his conviction was quashed and a re-trial ordered. 2023 BBC. Anyone can read what . The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". This led to the two Leeds fans being stabbed. In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. 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. The way the police and the authorities were with us. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. They knocked back as much Elfe (lager), Jack Daniels and Bacardi as I could pour.". Try a week on us. 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. Both families come here each April 5, to lay flowers and let another year pass. The Turkish police didnt give a shit about us. If someone could have shown me those levels of intimidation, Id have refused to play the game unhesitatingly. The city centre was tense but, thanks to a massive police presence, mainly empty. Your mind was elsewhere., Harte also felt a delayed reaction. [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. 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.
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galatasaray leeds death