The shadow of Istanbul is longer for Andy Loftus. Theyd turned on their tellies and it was all over the Turkish news, Fallows says. According to a waiter at a nearby restaurant, the Turkish club's fanatical fans had heard through the grapevine that trouble was brewing. Summarize this article for a 10 years old.
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. galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. Witnesses said he had been bludgeoned by police as he cradled a dying Chris in the street. 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. [48] In 2001, the tribunal ruled in their favour,[49] and ordered Royal Mail to reinstate them. 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. They didnt care., The Speights were different and left the criminal cases alone. Leeds will on Saturday afternoon mark 15 years since the deaths of supporters Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were stabbed by a Galatasaray fan in April 2000. David Davies, the Football Association's executive director, called it "frankly, the least worst option". Acquittal plea in soccer death trial. The Turkish. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. More importantly, we needed to find out what state the two lads were in and whether we could help them.. Ridsdale can visualise it all 21 years on: the lay-out of the hospital, the chaos inside, the panicked confusion. The day after the riots, FA Executive Director David Davies, issued an apology for the violence. At the time he said: 'It was a tragic thing in football but we can't live in the past. The families of the victims will tell you that. In 2014 he was spoken to by a Turkish website, a free man again. 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. 13:02 EST 23 Mar 2021 Im not sure Ive even processed it now. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. 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. Riots and 2 English deaths around UEFA Cup matches Galatasaray from Turkey against English teams in 2000 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. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. I dont know if the club encouraged them to do that but you were well aware of objects hitting the shields. Massive riots Galatasaray - Leeds / Arsenal 2000 - YouTube Association with the tragedy can be difficult. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. 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. There isnt much that unnerves me but that was quite a scary moment. Turkish eye-witnesses accused Leeds fans of insulting women, defacing the Turkish flag, urinating in the street and tipping over a car. He was taken to identify the other, Chris Loftus, in the morgue after doctors mistook him for a family member. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. It is his life and his career, much as the option of Galatasaray was incapable of arising without anyone passing comment. 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. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. The complication here is that football has no right to dictate how people manage a grievance that goes so far beyond standard rivalry. Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. [25] The British fans were later released without charge but were forbidden from returning to Denmark. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Galatasaray advance to Ziraat Trkiye Kupas . Devastated., The next 24 hours were a blur. ', While a third posted: 'They suit each other. , updated [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. [28] In Turkey, nine people were accidentally shot and injured by Galatasaray fans firing guns in celebration despite police warning them not to. Give our social media channels a follow . Staff said many fans were drunk by 10pm, intimidating Turkish families drinking in the lounge. He liked a drink and a laugh, simple as that, Andy says. [17], Throughout the day large numbers of fans, both English and Turkish, were seen throughout the city and at the airport. Everything happened in a flash.
Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. 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. 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. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. Everyones different., A brass plaque commemorating Speight and Lofus was set into brickwork outside Elland Road in 2001. Its the most terrified Ive ever been, he says. 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. ', And: 'Alioski can f*** off, he obviously knows the history between the two clubs.'. galatasaray leeds death Try a week on us. 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. So Leeds did. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder launches knife range - mirror Uefa, after consultation with the clubs and the Turkish authorities, wavered but eventually decided to go ahead. "There was nothing in the days running up to this match to suggest there would be this level of violence," Mr Hunt said. My sisters had a word and told me to sort myself out. Then a good mate of mine appeared and said thered been a bit of trouble. Former Leeds United Chairman Peter Ridsdale said: "The lasting impact has been to see the devastating effect it's had on Christopher and Kevin's families. In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. galatasaray leeds deathashtoreth worship practices. "Maybe they thought they were being funny but to Turks who do not speak good English, it was very offensive.". Those killed were "attackers", it said. 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. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. Then you turn around and Kevin and Chris are lying there., In the hospitals waiting area, Andy overheard a voice saying that one of the fatalities was one of the four brothers. 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. If the thought of a transfer like that sits uncomfortably then perhaps it should. I genuinely feared for our lives. Its funny what sticks in your head, he says. 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. Who really cares?. 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 eggs were massive and I was chuffed to bits with mine, he says. 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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. Loftus had already been pronounced dead and in the melee, hospital staff mistakenly assumed Ridsdale was a relative and took him downstairs to the mortuary. Confusion reigned. I am happy and I hope everyone else can be too. 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. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. But eventually the issue of what to do about the game had to be addressed. Both had numerous other wounds. 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. galatasaray leeds death - kikuyajp.com 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. Gray, one of OLearys assistants, tried to focus his attention elsewhere. Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . Gray, a Glaswegian, was in the Celtic end with his wife Linda on the day of the Ibrox disaster in 1971. 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. The cause of the fighting which broke out after dark in Istanbul was a subject of fierce contention in the weeks after the stabbings. 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 The second leg was totally different. 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They ordered us to pump up the volume, so we did," said Mr Dedeler, 24. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. Early relaxation gave way to brutal battle as rivals taunted each other, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. I went for some counselling and didnt go through with all of it but the charity work helped. (Main photo of Kevin Speight with his son George and daughter Holly). It shows all personal information about the players, including age, nationality, contract duration and market value. You dont take much notice of whats said because youre out there for a beer and a laugh. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. sauce pizza and wine mac and cheese. Andy has paid for the plaque to be cleaned a couple of times and it could do with another polish now. Soon, they arrived at a flight of steps and a spot which would generate one of the lasting images of the entire tragedy. He was seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. UEFA, after a week of consideration, agreed with Leeds. He visited his fathers body in the chapel of rest across the road, bringing pictures he had drawn for him with felt tips. Welcome to Hell, Galatasaray liked to say. He just happened to run into some tossers with knives., George was so young that the aftermath almost strayed into boyhood adventure. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of. My sympathy was with them. Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. As. Will Griffee For Mailonline
[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. In the circumstances, it was a total irrelevance and too highly-charged. Man United respond to Leeds hostility with thrilling win as Harry Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. It was the same at the second leg when I had to stand and look after Galatasarays main man at Elland Road. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. My instinct was that we had to know what was happening, Ridsdale says. Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. Its a strange thing but its important to me. [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. 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. As injured and angry Leeds fans came through, he did what he could. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. A lot of what went on I dont want to know. The atmosphere was electric like, scarily electric. They knocked back as much Elfe (lager), Jack Daniels and Bacardi as I could pour.". I think you just go into a downward spiral. Your mind was elsewhere., Harte also felt a delayed reaction. By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. Galatasaray 3-2 HangiKredi mraniyespor 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. Kewell grew up in Leeds academy and was in the starting line-up for both legs against Galatasaray. Whether this should dictate a transfer like the one Alioski was asked to ponder is a matter of opinion. Football and Leedss financial collapse made Ridsdale persona non grata at Elland Road but George says his mums face lit up when she heard that he was being interviewed for this article. The interview included vague expressions of regret but no apology to Speight and Loftus or their relatives. It was only when Gray arrived home that his parents asked if he was OK and told him about the many Rangers fans who had died. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". People know me because of my dad, he says. When they came back to Elland Road they thought our request for no away fans was inappropriate. Galatasaray tragedy will stay with Leeds United and Eirik Bakke forever It was a lad from Shipley who I knew, Andy says. It is unobtrusive and reads simply: In memory of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight who died tragically in Istanbul, April 5th 2000. I think those who arrived later knew what to expect.". Turkish police, according to British of ficials, appeared to be taking the killings as seriously as they would hope. I got arrested which was a bad thing but also a good thing. There was no minutes silence or acknowledgement of the deaths. The police were doing nothing to stop them. Hed just met a girl. We tried to raise awareness but it was a farce. Leeds and Galatasaray have an extremely volatile relationship following the death of two Leeds supporters prior to the UEFA CUp semi-final back in 2000. 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. Some headed for the James Joyce pub 200 metres away and joined a sing-song against Galatasaray. Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. There was a sense of relief to be leaving, he says, but I knew that flying out of Istanbul wasnt the end of it. 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. . Try a week on us. 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. Everything was muddled. From 5pm local time more than 100 Leeds fans had arrived shouting, singing and demanding beer, according to Batu Dedeler, the bar owner. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. No one meant for it to happen. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. He had been up all night receiving news of the stabbings, inflicted during violence which broke out on the eve of a UEFA Cup tie between Leeds and Galatasaray. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. We had a coach for the players and a coach for the directors, he says. 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. His brother was following behind us and, quite understandably, he lost it. I was amazed, he says. 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. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. 2000 fights between English and Turkish football fans. Nicolo Zaniolo signed on a permanent deal MORE. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. Away tickets were limited to 80, which effectively covered only senior Galatasaray officials. At no stage between arriving at the hospital and Leeds playing the first leg against Galatasaray the following night did Ridsdale sleep. Speights son, George, is no longer the cheeky kid with floppy hair smiling brightly in the photograph of his father he digs out. 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. 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. [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. Both had numerous other wounds. It was obvious that Galatasaray were making no concession for what had taken place, so that was our form of protest. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. 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. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. lisa left eye zodiac sign Search. In the context of football, that era was phenomenally good: Leeds in Europe and another trip to the continent always waiting around the corner. 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. 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. Mr Loftus from a plunging wound to his heart; Mr Speight, a few hours later after receiving a wound the length of his stomach. BBC News | EUROPE | Turkey still angry over fans' behaviour Some Arsenal fans reacted negatively to the news, claiming that there was still bad blood between the two sets of supporters and were concerned that there would be a resumption of hostilities between them.[51].