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. [37] Leeds United also banned three of their fans from Elland Road after they had been identified in pictures of the riots. 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. 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. I respect the Loftuses for fighting, 100 per cent. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. But in the light of day, the sun hits it and the sparkle lingers. Mr Loftus from a plunging wound to his heart; Mr Speight, a few hours later after receiving a wound the length of his stomach. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; a huge occasion for the club in a football sense, Ridsdale says. The plaque on the wall by Elland Roads East Stand says Never Forgotten and Leeds United swore themselves to those words. Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. [2] [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. After a long legal process in Turkey, four men were jailed in 2010. But when it came to Istanbul, he and the club were remarkable in reacting quickly and with compassion. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. [37], In the United Kingdom, Arsenal fans were originally blamed for the violence as the police had fixed blame on them. Galatasaray 2 - 1 Fraport TAV Antalyaspor MORE. Fallows is convinced that Galatasaray and the Turkish police made deliberate attempts to rattle and unsettle away teams, forcing players to squeeze through tight lines of officers to gain entry to the ground and admitting thousands of home fans to the stadium hours before kick-off. The first time he went inside to be present, he sat with friends and cried. "We did amazing business in one hour. 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. My mum struggled massively with it all and she still does now, George says. That is true. The Danish police were also criticized for their mishandling of the riots. In May 2002 Demir, who admitted the stabbings, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with four other men imprisoned for three months each. For a couple of days afterwards you run on adrenaline, he says. It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed. [3] Leeds fans had been drinking in bars reportedly taunting local people and Turkish police intervened to stop fights breaking out. I dont think a single one of the lads wanted to play that night.. 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. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. He liked a drink and a laugh, simple as that, Andy says. We tried to raise awareness but it was a farce. It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. When youre seven you cant process something like that, can you? How the violence started is unclear. [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. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. Later in the evening, a group of around 20 Leeds supporters broke off and found their way to the Riddim bar near Taksim Square, the huge expanse in the centre of Istanbul which was filled with places to eat and drink. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. 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. Who really cares?. In the context of football, that era was phenomenally good: Leeds in Europe and another trip to the continent always waiting around the corner. Your mind was elsewhere., Harte also felt a delayed reaction. Ali Sami Yen stadium should even go ahead. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. 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. 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. The interview included vague expressions of regret but no apology to Speight and Loftus or their relatives. The police were doing nothing to stop them. Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder. Menu The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. More than a dozen police watched but initially did not intervene. Trust us, this is only going to get worse., It didnt go down well, and I got that. 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. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. 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). My mum always says the same: Hed gone out there for the football, nothing else. She knows who he was but its not the same.. To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. Bitexen Giresunspor 0 - 4 Galatasaray MORE. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. At the time he said: 'It was a tragic thing in football but we can't live in the past. 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. Gray, one of OLearys assistants, tried to focus his attention elsewhere. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. The set of knives, emblazoned with Galatasaray's colours, are produced by Dutch firm Senvi and are available for 22. Theyd been seeing each other for about six months.. Me and the security team tried to create a bit of a cushion between them so the players werent worried about getting batoned, Fallows says. Squad Galatasaray This page displays a detailed overview of the club's current squad. For George, the clearest memories of his dad are few and slightly random. It also contains a table with average age, cumulative market value and average market value for each player position and overall. The story goes that he and his wife Susan got together after he offered her a lift on the back of one. There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. He was eight when the deaths occurred and he was 25 when he came to England as a professional. 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. It takes a certain amount of nerve to put a foot in both camps, which is doubtless why Harry Kewell was able to do so in 2008 when he left Liverpool for the Ali Sami Yen. The shadow of Istanbul is longer for Andy Loftus. 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. Ill hear them saying, Thats Kevin Speights lad and I like that. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. The complication here is that football has no right to dictate how people manage a grievance that goes so far beyond standard rivalry. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. I got a lot of abuse for that and no wonder. Kewell was quoted after joining Galatasaray as saying that to blame Galatasaray for the tragedy in Istanbul is simply wrong and discriminatory. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were killed in Istanbul, Turkey, in April 2000, Their deaths had left a "lasting impact" on their families, a former Leeds United chairman said. [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. He wasnt one of them who tried to cause trouble. I was amazed, he says. Mr Loftus's brother Andy said: "I know it may seem a long time but it's still very much like yesterday really.". Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . [39] Later on, British media blame also transferred towards Galatasaray fans. At least nine other people, including six Leeds fans, were injured. But eventually the issue of what to do about the game had to be addressed. The blood had to be sourced externally and to do that, someone had to pay. It wasnt a proper A&E unit. Galatasaray wanted me from the start. He was seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. Loftuss brother Andy jokes that he had thicker hair back in the day. [2] The events happened at 22:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square during a fight between Leeds fans and Galatasaray fans. According to one witness, a Turkish man was pushed to the ground and smashed his teeth on the pavement. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. Even now I get the feeling that people think we started it, Andy says. Speight and Loftus were not close friends but knew each other in passing, as travelling football fans do. [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. It didnt sit right with me. The first I knew of it was when they came out to tell me. 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. Bouncers guarded the bars from any English fans. And worse things too. [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. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Turkish eye-witnesses accused Leeds fans of insulting women, defacing the Turkish flag, urinating in the street and tipping over a car. Bits of Istanbul werent in control. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. At this juncture, it should be said that Kewell and Alioski were not identical. By then, you knew exactly what had gone on and you knew the severity of it. Ridsdale can visualise it all 21 years on: the lay-out of the hospital, the chaos inside, the panicked confusion. Gala is an awful football club and Alioski is an awful footballer. Kewell grew up in Leeds academy and was in the starting line-up for both legs against Galatasaray. The away crowd emptied after Rangers late equaliser without realising what had unfolded inside the ground. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. [50] In 2012 Piers Morgan, the editor of the Daily Mirror at the time and a high-profile Arsenal fan who attended the match, apologised for printing the pictures. My mum just felt she had to move on. Everything happened in a flash. Gray, a Glaswegian, was in the Celtic end with his wife Linda on the day of the Ibrox disaster in 1971. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. For long periods, none of those found guilty spent time behind bars. 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. 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. Jesus. Asked shortly afterwards whether he thought the tie would still go ahead, Mr Ridsdale said: "It's too early to say. Andy got a pint at the bar. Sneijder's tweet has since been deleted and the midfielder sent a tweet to an angry fan stating: "Very sorry. But the Leeds fans do not see it that way. Within an hour of the stabbings in central Istanbul, some of David OLearys squad emerged to speak to him. This led to 19 injuries, including 4 stabbings, and 60 arrests with similar events occurring in England and Turkey in the aftermath of the riots. 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. 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. They phoned their parents back home but the media had already informed them of Chriss death. 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 . Two Leeds fans were stabbed to death by Galatasaray supporters before game Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. I was totally speechless, totally shocked. 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. Send any friend a story. You dont take much notice of whats said because youre out there for a beer and a laugh. Away tickets were limited to 80, which effectively covered only senior Galatasaray officials. Association with the tragedy can be difficult. 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[19] The Danish police then moved in to separate the fans, and moved the Galatasaray fans back towards the square. The city centre was tense but, thanks to a massive police presence, mainly empty. Istanbul was like no other event he has dealt with. [44], In the United Kingdom, the Daily Mirror newspaper printed pictures of Arsenal fans alleged to have been part of the violence. They carried beer glasses outside, we couldn't stop them, and others followed." We werent talking about Leeds General Infirmary. Speights treatment failed to save him. It was a haunting moment then and it haunts me now. When the hospital said they were short of blood supplies, Ridsdale sent his chauffeur off to get more. From my point of view I was only interested in getting that game over and done with as safely as possible. 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. Leeds supporters who were present denied causing trouble and the UK coroner who presided over the inquest, David Hinchliff, stated in unequivocal terms that Speight and Loftus were the innocent victims of a deliberate ambush. I got arrested which was a bad thing but also a good thing. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Within a year, however, Demir, following an appeal, was a free man after his conviction was quashed and a re-trial ordered. [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. 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 . I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. A lot of what went on I dont want to know. Convictions were quashed, appeals were repetitive and it is far from clear how much of their respective sentences were served. By 10.30pm some of the rowdiest fans left the James Joyce and joined a crowd outside McDonalds just off Taksim Square. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. Its a game. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? The design of the place meant the Leeds players had to take a long walk to the tunnel, flanked by armed police. Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. , updated They have nothing but good words for Ridsdales conduct and nothing but gratitude for his support. And it is far too late to redress that now. It was a load of shit. The police told us themselves that the shoe-shine boys had been trailing us for a while, waiting to see when some of us had split away from the main group.. I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. As a family, I dont know how you come to terms with that., Inside the Ali Sami Yen, hundreds of Leeds supporters attended the first leg as planned and were housed in a small section of yellow seats. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. Wed spoken about doing something beforehand, he says. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. Galatasaray accused him of trying to gain an unfair sporting advantage. Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. [18] Arsenal fans congregated in nearby bars. A lot of what the police were doing was pure intimidation, Fallows says. 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. Has to be the biggest DO NOT for any Leeds player!! The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up." He sees it now as a necessary shock to the system. 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. . Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. [26] There were further clashes at the airport the day after the game. 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. Whether this should dictate a transfer like the one Alioski was asked to ponder is a matter of opinion. I thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. The facilities are great. Read about our approach to external linking. Something went wrong, please try again later. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. 'There were a lot of other clubs out there but this is perfect for me. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For Leedss staff and players, the details of what had occurred in Taksim Square the night before remained sketchy until after full-time. Chelsea 1-0 Leeds LIVE: Blues finally find the breakthrough as Wesley Fofana heads home the opener in the second half in a game Graham Potter really needs to win as Brighton and Aston Villa . As. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. Disgusting. Early relaxation gave way to brutal battle as rivals taunted each other, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The events of the day started early in the morning when skirmishes broke out in a bar, which led to an Arsenal fan being stabbed. Leeds always kept records of who was travelling and which hotels they were using. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. It was a lad from Shipley who I knew, Andy says. The Ibrox disaster was a tragedy, an accident, he says. Then you get your head around whats actually happened. Forty Leeds fans arrested in the scuffles were released without charge. [6] Demir was later found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, but released in 2004. The way the police and the authorities were with us. Those April nights were as close as Leeds will get to it. They had been a couple since their teens. His financial record at Leeds was dismal and Leeds never forget about it. 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. 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. A group of rival fans gathered and jeers were exchanged. [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. . Turkish police, according to British of ficials, appeared to be taking the killings as seriously as they would hope. 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. Harry Kewell is in front of him, carrying a ball and looking bewildered. This morning the Dutch international tweeted: "Finally my GalatasaraySK knife set is now available and can be delivered everywhere.". My sisters had a word and told me to sort myself out. (Main photo of Kevin Speight with his son George and daughter Holly). Witnesses said he had been bludgeoned by police as he cradled a dying Chris in the street. Spencer stepped in and paid with his personal credit card. Holmes says Andy was the life and soul of the party before Istanbul but the impact of Chriss death was severe. Alioski had less of a cross to bear. It felt to me like the police were trying to frighten us, he says. I think you just go into a downward spiral. Fallows is a security guard with ample experience. 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. 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. I didn't know this and deleted our promotion for the merchandise kitchen item #respect. [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. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. [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 previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer.
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