galatasaray leeds death

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. Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. I knew the ramifications would be life-long.. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. When the second leg came round, in the dressing room we were trying to say, Come on, lets get stuck into them. But in the back of your mind youre putting football aside. I was getting into trouble, drinking and fighting. Some headed for the James Joyce pub 200 metres away and joined a sing-song against Galatasaray. 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. She remarried and shes carried on with her life but its still there, every time you come up to my dads birthday or the anniversary. 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. Bouncers guarded the bars from any English fans. One of 13 Turks arrested in Istanbul has confessed to stabbing Leeds United fan Christopher Loftus, whose body is expected . BBC News | EUROPE | Turkey still angry over fans' behaviour Harry Kewell is in front of him, carrying a ball and looking bewildered. 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. Alioski defended amid Leeds fans' fury over Galatasaray transfer links The brothers went to the British Embassy but, in Andys words, found them to be worse than useless. "They were screaming all sorts of things. I genuinely feared for our lives. 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. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; "a huge occasion for the club in a football sense," Ridsdale says. Disgusting. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. I could see in their faces how much they were raging, Fallows says. I cant explain it but I got this weird feeling, he says. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of. 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He had a passion for Lambretta scooters and spent his spare time fixing old models in his mothers garden. He died in an operating theatre in the early hours of the morning, despite Leeds United paying for blood supplies to be rushed to him. Its the most terrified Ive ever been, he says. 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. I was amazed, he says. My mum flicked it straight off again. 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. Sneijder's tweet has since been deleted and the midfielder sent a tweet to an angry fan stating: "Very sorry. My dad is ex-World Cup star and BBC pundit but I want glory in a 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. [20], Then, in a calculated attack, approximately 500 Arsenal fans[19] attacked from the main road behind the Galatasaray fans. on the 20th anniversary of the killings in Istanbul. 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. 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. [21] This lasted 20 minutes[19] before the Danish police attempted to break up the melee with dogs[22] and tear gas. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. I feel sorry for her, George says. But eventually the issue of what to do about the game had to be addressed. 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It's a fantastic city and I'm willing to learn. Twenty years on from Istanbul: the night when football became murder It was obvious that Galatasaray were making no concession for what had taken place, so that was our form of protest. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. And it is far too late to redress that now. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. He has never spoken about his memories of Turkey before but, like Andy Loftus, says he wants to reflect 20 years on. Galatasaray - Detailed squad 22/23 | Transfermarkt [37], In the United Kingdom, Arsenal fans were originally blamed for the violence as the police had fixed blame on them. In the first leg it was difficult to say, Lets get out there do it for the two lads because we didnt have the full picture, Gray says. 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. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; a huge occasion for the club in a football sense, Ridsdale says. Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder apologises to Leeds fans over knife set They know what he did for us.. 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. [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". I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. 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. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. Looking at it from where the fans were standing, Id have been as angry as them. 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. I had no idea where we were going or why we were going there, he says. Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. 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? ', And: 'Alioski can f*** off, he obviously knows the history between the two clubs.'. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. Read about our approach to external linking. Read about our approach to external linking. 11 Feb 02 | Europe Turkish justice moves slowly . After a long legal process in Turkey, four men were jailed in 2010. Nicolo Zaniolo signed on a permanent deal MORE. [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. They will never be forgotten.. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. The bodies were repatriated a few days later, beginning the process of mourning and funerals. galatasaray leeds deathashtoreth worship practices. I dont want to imply criticism of the hospital for that, Ridsdale says. galatasaray leeds death The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". [38], In 2013, Arsenal invited Galatasaray to compete at their annual Emirates Cup tournament. [2] Those April nights were as close as Leeds will get to it. 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. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. The manager of Leeds, David O'Leary, had voiced fears of being met at the airport by "a 100-strong rentamob". Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. It triggered something and I ran into the ward. [44], In the United Kingdom, the Daily Mirror newspaper printed pictures of Arsenal fans alleged to have been part of the violence. 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. Wesley Sneijder, a Dutch international who . As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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 . Forty Leeds fans arrested in the scuffles were released without charge. You dont take much notice of whats said because youre out there for a beer and a laugh. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. 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. Arsenal qualified for the final by defeating French club Lens in their semi-final. Try a week on us. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. 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. Harry Kewell - Wikipedia Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. You mention him over Farsley way and people respect him. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The police were knocking everyone about, says Paul Holmes, a friend of the Loftuses who was in Taksim Square when the violence broke out. For players and supporters alike, this has become one of the most fraught and difficult venues in Europe. [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. Andy Loftus had flown to watch the match with his brother. Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. 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. They carried beer glasses outside, we couldn't stop them, and others followed." [37] Leeds United also banned three of their fans from Elland Road after they had been identified in pictures of the riots. . 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. I dont think a single one of the lads wanted to play that night.. It shows all personal information about the players, including age, nationality, contract duration and market value. Galatasaray 2-1 Trabzonspor MORE. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. One minute youre coming out of a bar, the next youve got people running to attack you. The security guard who was in Turkey with the clubs players and directors is into his 50s and taking it easy after neck surgery. There was no minutes silence or acknowledgement of the deaths. galatasaray leeds death. #RIPChrisAndKev. After travelling to the Turkish capital to follow the club, Mr Speight and Mr Loftus were attacked with machetes when a row broke out between rival fans. I was totally speechless, totally shocked. 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. Andy has paid for the plaque to be cleaned a couple of times and it could do with another polish now. [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. Galatasaray wanted me from the start. I didn't know this and deleted our promotion for the merchandise kitchen item #respect. 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. The police were doing nothing to stop them. Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. 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. "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. Welcome to Hell, Galatasaray liked to say. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. 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. If the thought of a transfer like that sits uncomfortably then perhaps it should. sauce pizza and wine mac and cheese. I am happy and I hope everyone else can be too. [17] This came after Arsenal had warned the police before the final that there could be hooligans travelling to Copenhagen. And there was the time when Speight took him to Elland Road and George, in his infancy, mistakenly cheered when the opposition scored. Away tickets were limited to 80, which effectively covered only senior Galatasaray officials. 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. A lot of what the police were doing was pure intimidation, Fallows says. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. The story goes that he and his wife Susan got together after he offered her a lift on the back of one. A streetwise Mancunian, he has looked after Oasis, Noel Gallagher and Take That and on the morning when we speak hes at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, organising staff for a gig by The Script. He had been involved in the plane crash which Leeds players and coaches escaped from on the way home from a Premier League game at West Ham United in 1998. 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. 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. 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. [35] In response, Prime Minister Tony Blair stated: Hopefully this threat will bring to their senses anyone tempted to continue the mindless thuggery that had brought such shame to the country.[35]. Im not sure Ive even processed it now. [18] Later, large numbers of Galatasaray fans congregated in Copenhagen's City Hall Square, raising the Turkish flag in the square. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. 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. Six people were arrested and three Metropolitan Police officers were injured. The routine for Andy and others who went abroad with Leeds was always the same: straight to the hotel, straight into town, straight on the beer. Whether this should dictate a transfer like the one Alioski was asked to ponder is a matter of opinion. The driver said hed turn it off but I wanted to listen to it. 12/02/2021 . Harry Kewell (born 22 September 1978) is an Australian association football coach, manager and former player. Galatasaray.org [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. In the circumstances, it was a total irrelevance and too highly-charged. The Turkish side are hated by those at Elland Road after two travelling fans were stabbed to. [4] Police arrested Ali Umit Demir and three other men for the stabbings. galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. The English FA followed the line of least resistance. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. galatasaray leeds death - kikuyajp.com We tried to keep a lot of the information about what had happened [to Speight and Loftus] from them, rightly or wrongly. The setting was Turkeys biggest city, on the banks of the Bosphorus, and the game was the first leg of a UEFA Cup semi-final. ", Jack Connolly added: "That Wesley Sneijder knife launch is disgusting, scum of the earth.". Life is good. There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. They all say no. 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. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. That is true. In its opinion, contesting the game was the least worst option. It is 10 years since he last went to the grave. And I still blame myself a lot.. [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. Tragedy that awaited two fans on a journey to hell The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. My mum always says the same: Hed gone out there for the football, nothing else. 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. At least nine other people, including six Leeds fans, were injured. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. 2000 UEFA Cup Final riots - Wikipedia It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed.