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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. In 2014 he was spoken to by a Turkish website, a free man again. The Turkish side are hated by those at Elland Road after two travelling fans were stabbed to death by Galatasaray supporters prior to the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000. Around them, riot police are standing with shields in the air, protecting the players from what Fallows says was all sorts of things smashing off them. The atmosphere was electric like, scarily electric. I didnt want to do it either. The man named as the prime suspect in the killings, a cafe owner named Ali Umit Demir, was arrested by Turkish police within days and he and three other Turks were later convicted in court. At least nine other people, including six Leeds fans, were injured. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. 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. I think those who arrived later knew what to expect.". The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. 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. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. Galatasaray 2-1 Trabzonspor MORE. Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. UEFA, after a week of consideration, agreed with Leeds. The Ibrox disaster was a tragedy, an accident, he says. When they came back to Elland Road they thought our request for no away fans was inappropriate. [18] Later, large numbers of Galatasaray fans congregated in Copenhagen's City Hall Square, raising the Turkish flag in the square. I jumped in a taxi and went back to Taksim Square., He has no recollection of how he came to be at Taksim Hospital, only that he found himself there after being told that the fighting had been serious. He was showered with stickers and sweets gifts from friends who lived locally and Ridsdale, who supported both families throughout, delivered Easter eggs to the house for him and Holly. 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. 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. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. They know what he did for us.. I dont think a single one of the lads wanted to play that night.. The passing of time is there in all of them. 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. 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. The families of the victims will tell you that. The story goes that he and his wife Susan got together after he offered her a lift on the back of one. Its a game. Give our social media channels a follow . [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. After a long legal process in Turkey, four men were jailed in 2010. It was totally deliberate. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; a huge occasion for the club in a football sense, Ridsdale says. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. It triggered something and I ran into the ward. I didnt want to be standing there telling them what to do and I understood that they didnt want to hear it. 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. Galatasaray accused him of trying to gain an unfair sporting advantage. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". Twenty Leeds fans, witnesses to the fight, were interviewed. I was getting into trouble, drinking and fighting. People know me because of my dad, he says. 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. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". I had no idea where we were going or why we were going there, he says. Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. [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]. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. Arsenal qualified for the final by defeating French club Lens in their semi-final. Wesley Sneijder, a Dutch international who . There was no minutes silence or acknowledgement of the deaths. And it is far too late to redress that now. [42] Arsenal fans also criticised the police, claiming that they had been slow to intervene and were "too soft" on the hooligans. By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. Disgusting. [23] The violence, which included fans from other English clubs[24] and Turks living in Denmark,[25] lasted for 45 minutes. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. Wed spoken about doing something beforehand, he says. 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. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. There was nothing you could say to him. Convention required the directors of the clubs involved in a European tie to share a meal with UEFA delegates the night before the game and Galatasaray arranged the gathering, not far from the Kempinski Hotel where Leedss players and directors were staying. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. But he didnt make much of it, like it was something of nothing. But when it came to Istanbul, he and the club were remarkable in reacting quickly and with compassion. The Loftuses fought for justice for as long as they could. 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. Spencer stepped in and paid with his personal credit card. Turkish Prime Minister Blent Ecevit also made a call for fans to avoid violence after the riots, stating: Sports should be an initiative for friendship, not for fighting. So Leeds did. Its funny what sticks in your head, he says. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. The design of the place meant the Leeds players had to take a long walk to the tunnel, flanked by armed police. 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. George is aware of some of the details but has tried not to dig too deeply. We had to say to them as clearly as we could, If you go into the streets, if you go out drinking, we cant tell you how dangerous itll be. Your mind was elsewhere., Harte also felt a delayed reaction. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. (Main photo of Kevin Speight with his son George and daughter Holly). What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? "Once more English hooligans, once more, blood," said the mainstream Hurriyet newspaper. George is different. The problem shouldn't have been Alioski or his next club, it's how Galatasaray dealt with that tragedy By Phil Hay Jul 24, 2021 In the early hours of the morning after the death of two Leeds. Several fans offered to foot the bill. I genuinely feared for our lives. Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . 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. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. 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. . Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. Those April nights were as close as Leeds will get to it. Fallows is a security guard with ample experience. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. But in the light of day, the sun hits it and the sparkle lingers. 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. Early relaxation gave way to brutal battle as rivals taunted each other, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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. Leeds supporters in Istanbul were told to stay in their hotels. In fact, the Leeds United supporters, arriving for the first leg of their Uefa Cup semi-final with Galatasaray, were at first greeted in a way which mostly belied the Welcome to Hell banners which have traditionally greeted English teams there. The bodies were repatriated a few days later, beginning the process of mourning and funerals. 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They carried beer glasses outside, we couldn't stop them, and others followed." Former club legend Harry Kewell previously soured his relationship with Leeds fans after moving to Galatasaray from Liverpool in 2008. . (Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt AMA/Getty Images). He was seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. When the press came round, me and my cousin would bounce on my bed to try and get in the photos and in the papers. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. Obviously he liked his football too. galatasaray leeds death. 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. The police claim he was punched. According to a waiter at a nearby restaurant, the Turkish club's fanatical fans had heard through the grapevine that trouble was brewing. 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.". 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. Galatasaray supporters, despite everything that had gone on, were pelting the buses and trying to smash the windows. 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. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. One of 13 Turks arrested in Istanbul has confessed to stabbing Leeds United fan Christopher Loftus, whose body is expected . 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. That decision drew much criticism, as well it might. There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. The slit-throat gestures from fans as we arrived on the bus. Try a week on us. George understands why but wishes with hindsight that he had been there. Holmes says Andy was the life and soul of the party before Istanbul but the impact of Chriss death was severe. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. "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.". You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare them.. A few hours later two Leeds supporters, Kevin Speight, 40, and Christopher Loftus, 37, were dead from stab wounds. Asked shortly afterwards whether he thought the tie would still go ahead, Mr Ridsdale said: "It's too early to say. The city centre was tense but, thanks to a massive police presence, mainly empty. Wed heard that Istanbul could be a bit dangerous but we never thought anything of it, Andy says. That is true. The English FA followed the line of least resistance. Gray, a Glaswegian, was in the Celtic end with his wife Linda on the day of the Ibrox disaster in 1971. 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. We tried to raise awareness but it was a farce. Ill hear them saying, Thats Kevin Speights lad and I like that. Surprise me? 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. According to one witness, a Turkish man was pushed to the ground and smashed his teeth on the pavement. Ill be careful here but I have to say that I felt uncomfortable welcoming Galatasarays delegates to Elland Road. 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. Later in the day, Galatasaray fans occupied City Hall Square before heading towards Arsenal fans in bars nearby. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. This led to the two Leeds fans being stabbed. The set of knives, emblazoned with Galatasaray's colours, are produced by Dutch firm Senvi and are available for 22. Both had numerous other wounds. One wrote: 'If Alioski goes there, his high regard and reputation with Leeds fans is destroyed!! Matt White tweeted: "Wesley Sneijder tweeting a personalised Galatasaray knife set on the 15th anniversary of the murder of 2 Leeds fans in Istanbul? Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. And worse things too. The Turkish media tried to blame English fans for provoking the violence by being drunk and disrespecting the Turkish flag. The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans being banned from attending the second leg in England. No one meant for it to happen. 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'. "I haven't seen a single Englishman all day," said a newspaper vendor. 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. "It's just a bit of a rollercoaster ride really but we get by," he said. 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. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. The brothers went to the British Embassy but, in Andys words, found them to be worse than useless. Anywhere else in Europe, I doubt it would have been played. Whether this should dictate a transfer like the one Alioski was asked to ponder is a matter of opinion. [44], In the United Kingdom, the Daily Mirror newspaper printed pictures of Arsenal fans alleged to have been part of the violence. British fans were outnumbered and chased up side streets. 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. Turkish eye-witnesses accused Leeds fans of insulting women, defacing the Turkish flag, urinating in the street and tipping over a car. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. 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. The Galatasaray fans were later attacked from behind by members of British hooligan firms seeking revenge for the Istanbul stabbings. 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. Its completely different. [26] There were further clashes at the airport the day after the game. 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. They ordered us to pump up the volume, so we did," said Mr Dedeler, 24. 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 Speights were a close family who lived in the Yorkshire village of Farsley, where Kevin Speight was landlord of the Bay Horse pub. Menu One minute youre coming out of a bar, the next youve got people running to attack you. 'There were a lot of other clubs out there but this is perfect for me. Try a week on us. The day after the riots, FA Executive Director David Davies, issued an apology for the violence. The Turkish. The Turkish police didnt give a shit about us. I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. ", "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. When the hospital said they were short of blood supplies, Ridsdale sent his chauffeur off to get more. [3] Leeds fans had been drinking in bars reportedly taunting local people and Turkish police intervened to stop fights breaking out. The loss ofKevin Speight and Christopher Loftus is still felt incredibly deeply and the feud between the clubs remains. [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. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. [16] Dineen was released from hospital later in the day and attended the match as a guest of the Arsenal directors. Scuffles broke out but the police moved in and fans scattered. It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed. They have nothing but good words for Ridsdales conduct and nothing but gratitude for his support. Chris and Kevin were brutally murdered in Istanbul on the eve of our UEFA Cup semi-final fixture with Galatasaray in 2000. Some claimed the English sparked it by throwing beer glasses at passing women pedestrians. He must have been off his head., Ian Harte, the left-back, is more vivid in describing it. 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.