galatasaray leeds death

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. I was getting into trouble, drinking and fighting. This morning the Dutch international tweeted: "Finally my GalatasaraySK knife set is now available and can be delivered everywhere.". A few hours later two Leeds supporters, Kevin Speight, 40, and Christopher Loftus, 37, were dead from stab wounds. OFFICIAL DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE MORE. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". A fortnight ago, Ridsdale was voted onto the EFLs board. People speak well of him. Outside, Leeds fans reportedly taunted Turkish men. Bowyer leads out the Leeds team as the first leg went ahead (Photo: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images), A minutes silence is observed before the return leg at Elland Road (Photo: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images). Leeds had worries on several fronts: maintaining the safety of other fans in the city, helping the relatives of Speight and Loftus in Turkey and at home, and deciding whether the game at the Ali Sami Yen stadium should even go ahead. The security guard who was in Turkey with the clubs players and directors is into his 50s and taking it easy after neck surgery. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Squad Galatasaray This page displays a detailed overview of the club's current squad. This caused a severe riot in the city square, with several restaurant facilities used by fans to fight each other, with iron bars and knives also being used. The plaque on the wall by Elland Roads East Stand says Never Forgotten and Leeds United swore themselves to those words. Former club legend Harry Kewell previously soured his relationship with Leeds fans after moving to Galatasaray from Liverpool in 2008. 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. 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. Ali Sami Yen stadium should even go ahead. She knows who he was but its not the same.. The English FA followed the line of least resistance. Shes struggled with it more than I have because shes got nothing there. They ordered us to pump up the volume, so we did," said Mr Dedeler, 24. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. Both had numerous other wounds. It sounds daft but I dont think I knew how to react. It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. 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. [19] The Danish police then moved in to separate the fans, and moved the Galatasaray fans back towards the square. 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.. 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. Nicolo Zaniolo signed on a permanent deal MORE. To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. He was eight when the deaths occurred and he was 25 when he came to England as a professional. 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. Away tickets were limited to 80, which effectively covered only senior Galatasaray officials. I dont know why.. The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. 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. He visited his fathers body in the chapel of rest across the road, bringing pictures he had drawn for him with felt tips. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. [21] This lasted 20 minutes[19] before the Danish police attempted to break up the melee with dogs[22] and tear gas. Leeds supporters in Istanbul were told to stay in their hotels. [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. It sunk in quickly once we got home. Devastated., The next 24 hours were a blur. Whether this should dictate a transfer like the one Alioski was asked to ponder is a matter of opinion. Kevin Fallows was the clubs head of security and travelled with the players to all their fixtures in Europe. 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). galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. 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. Everyones different., A brass plaque commemorating Speight and Lofus was set into brickwork outside Elland Road in 2001. Holmes says Andy was the life and soul of the party before Istanbul but the impact of Chriss death was severe. Youre a kid. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? 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? After a while, Andys eldest brother Phil complained of feeling ill and the two of them decided to go back to their hotel. UEFA, after a week of consideration, agreed with Leeds. "They were using very bad language," said Abdul Garlad, a manager. He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. It was the same at the second leg when I had to stand and look after Galatasarays main man at Elland Road. As. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. The Ibrox disaster was a tragedy, an accident, he says. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Try a week on us. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. 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). 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 . Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. By At the hotel, Phil went up to his room. The away crowd emptied after Rangers late equaliser without realising what had unfolded inside the ground. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. lisa left eye zodiac sign Search. 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. 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. Ali Umit Demir, was arrested by Turkish police within days and he and three other Turks were later convicted in court. A group of rival fans gathered and jeers were exchanged. Others that the Turks precipitated it by throwing chairs. I was totally speechless, totally shocked. 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. The Turkish. [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. [18] Arsenal fans congregated in nearby bars. By 10.30pm some of the rowdiest fans left the James Joyce and joined a crowd outside McDonalds just off Taksim Square. [4] Police arrested Ali Umit Demir and three other men for the stabbings. It was how away days in Europe played out. The potential for trouble was as high as anything Id been involved in. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. Galatasaray supporters, despite everything that had gone on, were pelting the buses and trying to smash the windows. 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. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. Im not sure Ive even processed it now. 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. Theyd turned on their tellies and it was all over the Turkish news, Fallows says. More importantly, we needed to find out what state the two lads were in and whether we could help them.. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. Four people were stabbed in the scuffles, which also involved fans from other clubs and were viewed by the media as part of a retaliation for the killing of two Leeds United fans by Galatasaray supporters the month before. It was a load of shit. Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. [28] In Turkey, nine people were accidentally shot and injured by Galatasaray fans firing guns in celebration despite police warning them not to. 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. 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. [44], In the United Kingdom, the Daily Mirror newspaper printed pictures of Arsenal fans alleged to have been part of the violence. The loss ofKevin Speight and Christopher Loftus is still felt incredibly deeply and the feud between the clubs remains. It is regarded as a significant act of betrayal by many fans for a Leeds player to join Galatasaray. The first the Leeds players heard of the incident in Taksim Square was when phone calls started reaching them in their hotel. Ridsdale was told by staff at the hospital that Speight was in a critical condition and needed an urgent transfusion but that the blood had to be paid for. 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. He was seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. (Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt AMA/Getty Images). It was totally deliberate. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. I stood there with Eddie Gray, Fallows says. I know bits and bats but it doesnt help me to go over it, he says. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. 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. Several fans offered to foot the bill. I didnt feel that their response was what our response would have been. [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. Ridsdale and Leedss operations director, David Spencer, were at a floating restaurant on the Bosphorus when they were phoned to tell them trouble in the centre of Istanbul had resulted in at least two fans being hospitalised. 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. It was completely against your idea of law and order. Istanbul was like no other event he has dealt with. 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. Spencer stepped in and paid with his personal credit card. I was amazed, he says. The facilities are great. 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. No one meant for it to happen. Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . Uefa, after consultation with the clubs and the Turkish authorities, wavered but eventually decided to go ahead. I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans being banned from attending the second leg in England. There was no minutes silence or acknowledgement of the deaths. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. Ridsdale is someone the Speights hold in high regard. We had a coach for the players and a coach for the directors, he says. Both had numerous other wounds. They didnt care., The Speights were different and left the criminal cases alone. It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed. Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. 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. 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. David Davies, the Football Association's executive director, called it "frankly, the least worst option". Welcome to Hell, Galatasaray liked to say. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. You dont take much notice of whats said because youre out there for a beer and a laugh. The city centre was tense but, thanks to a massive police presence, mainly empty. According to a waiter at a nearby restaurant, the Turkish club's fanatical fans had heard through the grapevine that trouble was brewing. Galatasaray football player Wesley Sneijder has released a commemorative knife set - on the 15th anniversary of the fatal stabbing of two Leeds fans by Turkish supporters. 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