He had a passion for Lambretta scooters and spent his spare time fixing old models in his mothers garden. One minute youre coming out of a bar, the next youve got people running to attack you. There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. The complication here is that football has no right to dictate how people manage a grievance that goes so far beyond standard rivalry. [23] The violence, which included fans from other English clubs[24] and Turks living in Denmark,[25] lasted for 45 minutes. [24] It was claimed that the police failed to control the riots,[43] and that they had been undermanned and outmaneuvered, to which Mogens Lauridsen, the police chief in Copenhagen admitted that the police had been "under-prepared". 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 thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. 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 . Absolutely amazed and totally stunned. 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. [8], The stabbings caused anger throughout the United Kingdom, and subsequently members of Arsenal's hooligan firms The Herd and The Gooners,[9] wanted to avenge the deaths of the Leeds fans, and telephoned other British hooligan firms, inviting them to join them in Copenhagen to attack Galatasaray fans. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The passing of time is there in all of them. And it is far too late to redress that now. His financial record at Leeds was dismal and Leeds never forget about it. Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. 12/02/2021 . I stood there with Eddie Gray, Fallows says. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. Others that the Turks precipitated it by throwing chairs. 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. 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. It is unobtrusive and reads simply: In memory of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight who died tragically in Istanbul, April 5th 2000. If someone could have shown me those levels of intimidation, Id have refused to play the game unhesitatingly. [44], In the United Kingdom, the Daily Mirror newspaper printed pictures of Arsenal fans alleged to have been part of the violence. Follow Phil on Twitter @PhilHay_, George and Holly Speight with Peter Ridsdale after their fathers death. He was seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. 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. [30] A Danish police officer[22] and a Turkish cameraman were also injured in the riots. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. Kevin Fallows was the clubs head of security and travelled with the players to all their fixtures in Europe. Galatasaray 2 - 1 Fraport TAV Antalyaspor MORE. Arsenal qualified for the final by defeating French club Lens in their semi-final. 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. 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. For a couple of days afterwards you run on adrenaline, he says. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. [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. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. 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. It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed. Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder apologises to Leeds fans over knife set Eddie Gray is crouching down as he runs up from underground and into the open air. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. galatasaray leeds death - Sercano TV 2000 UEFA Cup Final riots - Wikipedia 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. UEFA also requested that fences be put up around the perimeter of the pitch. Leeds always kept records of who was travelling and which hotels they were using. But if you back out, youll forfeit the game and incur a 3-0 defeat. Will Griffee For Mailonline 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. 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 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. Gray, one of OLearys assistants, tried to focus his attention elsewhere. George has no recollection of his dad leaving for Istanbul or of him saying goodbye. 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 brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". Leeds United fans' deaths in Turkey 20 years ago 'feels like - BBC "They came into town to see. Ridsdale can visualise it all 21 years on: the lay-out of the hospital, the chaos inside, the panicked confusion. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; "a huge occasion for the club in a football sense," Ridsdale says. They have nothing but good words for Ridsdales conduct and nothing but gratitude for his support. [37], In the United Kingdom, Arsenal fans were originally blamed for the violence as the police had fixed blame on them. 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. It is 10 years since he last went to the grave. [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. They know what he did for us.. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. Riots and 2 English deaths around UEFA Cup matches Galatasaray from Turkey against English teams in 2000 Everything was muddled. Everyones different., A brass plaque commemorating Speight and Lofus was set into brickwork outside Elland Road in 2001. 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. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. 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. They carried beer glasses outside, we couldn't stop them, and others followed." [26] There were further clashes at the airport the day after the game. It was a haunting moment then and it haunts me now. 2023 BBC. It was obvious that Galatasaray were making no concession for what had taken place, so that was our form of protest. The loss ofKevin Speight and Christopher Loftus is still felt incredibly deeply and the feud between the clubs remains. Six people were arrested and three Metropolitan Police officers were injured. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. George is aware of some of the details but has tried not to dig too deeply. The Speights were a close family who lived in the Yorkshire village of Farsley, where Kevin Speight was landlord of the Bay Horse pub. 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 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. It shows all personal information about the players, including age, nationality, contract duration and market value. Several fans offered to foot the bill. [17] This came after Arsenal had warned the police before the final that there could be hooligans travelling to Copenhagen. [4] Police arrested Ali Umit Demir and three other men for the stabbings. Bits of Istanbul werent in control. Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or Andy was jailed in 2013 for his part in a fight between Leeds and Tottenham Hotspur fans in which a Spurs supporter was knocked unconscious. One Love was a controlled situation. ', By By that stage he was exhausted. You got paid each month and you did this, Andy says, gesturing as if to push a wad of banknotes into a drawer. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. As kick-off drew near, the drums and the noise from the stadium filtered down to the Ali Sami Yens subterranean dressing rooms. Surprise me? Andy got a pint at the bar. 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The police were knocking everyone about, says Paul Holmes, a friend of the Loftuses who was in Taksim Square when the violence broke out. We had hundreds of fans in Turkey, some in the air and another plane due to fly the following morning (the morning flight out from Leeds-Bradford Airport was rapidly cancelled). The facilities are great. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Tuesday 5th April 2022 marks 22 years since two loyal Leeds United supporters, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, travelled to Turkey to watch their beloved team in action but tragically never returned home. 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. No one meant for it to happen. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. Soon, they arrived at a flight of steps and a spot which would generate one of the lasting images of the entire tragedy. I didn't know this and deleted our promotion for the merchandise kitchen item #respect. 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. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous evening were rapidly sinking in and for those who were closest to it, the images wont fade. He has never spoken about his memories of Turkey before but, like Andy Loftus, says he wants to reflect 20 years on. Ali Umit Demir, was arrested by Turkish police within days and he and three other Turks were later convicted in court. Ridsdale is someone the Speights hold in high regard. British fans were outnumbered and chased up side streets. Loftuss brother Andy jokes that he had thicker hair back in the day. Im not sure Ive even processed it now. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. They had been a couple since their teens.
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