I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. Life is good. "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.". My mum just felt she had to move on. By then, you knew exactly what had gone on and you knew the severity of it. Ali Umit Demir, was arrested by Turkish police within days and he and three other Turks were later convicted in court. The families of the victims will tell you that. OFFICIAL DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE MORE. It is his life and his career, much as the option of Galatasaray was incapable of arising without anyone passing comment. Speight and Loftus were not close friends but knew each other in passing, as travelling football fans do. 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. His most recent role as a club manager was at English National League side Barnet, and he is currently a first team coach at Celtic.. As a player, Kewell represented Leeds United, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al-Gharafa and Melbourne Heart. 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. Both families come here each April 5, to lay flowers and let another year pass. Turkish eye-witnesses accused Leeds fans of insulting women, defacing the Turkish flag, urinating in the street and tipping over a car. It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. For me, it didnt feel real. [39] Later on, British media blame also transferred towards Galatasaray fans. Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. [2] The events happened at 22:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square during a fight between Leeds fans and Galatasaray fans. Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. One of 13 Turks arrested in Istanbul has confessed to stabbing Leeds United fan Christopher Loftus, whose body is expected . I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. It sunk in quickly once we got home. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. At the hotel, Phil went up to his room. My instinct was that we had to know what was happening, Ridsdale says. 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. [48] In 2001, the tribunal ruled in their favour,[49] and ordered Royal Mail to reinstate them. 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. [30] A Danish police officer[22] and a Turkish cameraman were also injured in the riots. 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. 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. 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. junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . Wesley Sneijder, a Dutch international who . 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. [41] It was noted by Turkish newspaper, Radikal that cannabis was being freely traded in the city square during the time before the riots, and the police did nothing about it. His brother was following behind us and, quite understandably, he lost it. I was totally speechless, totally shocked. George has no recollection of his dad leaving for Istanbul or of him saying goodbye. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. At no stage between arriving at the hospital and Leeds playing the first leg against Galatasaray the following night did Ridsdale sleep. The driver said hed turn it off but I wanted to listen to it. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. The complication here is that football has no right to dictate how people manage a grievance that goes so far beyond standard rivalry. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. A group of rival fans gathered and jeers were exchanged. It felt to me like the police were trying to frighten us, he says. George is different. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder launches knife range - mirror Wed heard that Istanbul could be a bit dangerous but we never thought anything of it, Andy says. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? 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. [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". It triggered something and I ran into the ward. galatasaray leeds death Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. The shadow of Istanbul is longer for Andy Loftus. Within an hour of the stabbings in central Istanbul, some of David OLearys squad emerged to speak to him. Galatasaray 2 - 1 Fraport TAV Antalyaspor MORE. 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. Jesus. Harry Kewell - Wikipedia You mention him over Farsley way and people respect him. Both had numerous other wounds. 13:02 EST 23 Mar 2021 In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. I didn't know this and deleted our promotion for the merchandise kitchen item #respect. The design of the place meant the Leeds players had to take a long walk to the tunnel, flanked by armed police. [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. Confusion reigned. [4] Police arrested Ali Umit Demir and three other men for the stabbings. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. But where Galatasaray failed, and where Ridsdale specifically felt resentment, was in grasping the scale of the tragedy and in refusing to accept that violence on the streets and a UEFA Cup tie could not be classed as unrelated events once the worst had happened. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". galatasaray leeds death. 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. After a while, Andys eldest brother Phil complained of feeling ill and the two of them decided to go back to their hotel. If you're Leeds, you don't move to a direct rival, simple. He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. The connection was not comparable to Kewells. 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 I feel sorry for her, George says. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. 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. . My sympathy was with them. 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. 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. To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. 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. [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. Man United respond to Leeds hostility with thrilling win as Harry 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. 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. It also contains a table with average age, cumulative market value and average market value for each player position and overall. Give our social media channels a follow . The deaths led to an angry reaction in England with Galatasaray fans . Mr Loftus's brother Andy said: "I know it may seem a long time but it's still very much like yesterday really.". [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. 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. There were reports that a Galatasaray fan had run to a telephone to call for support when he saw Leeds fans arriving. 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. The police were knocking everyone about, says Paul Holmes, a friend of the Loftuses who was in Taksim Square when the violence broke out. The way the police and the authorities were with us. By last night's kick-off, the pools of blood, shattered glass and debris had been cleared away. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. Harry Kewell is in front of him, carrying a ball and looking bewildered. #RIPChrisAndKev. I am happy and I hope everyone else can be too. 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 . But if you back out, youll forfeit the game and incur a 3-0 defeat. It was a load of shit. Eddie Gray is crouching down as he runs up from underground and into the open air. There isnt much that unnerves me but that was quite a scary moment. [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. In the context of football, that era was phenomenally good: Leeds in Europe and another trip to the continent always waiting around the corner. lisa left eye zodiac sign Search. [19] The Danish police then moved in to separate the fans, and moved the Galatasaray fans back towards the square. Without his help, my mum would have been a bit lost, George says. 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. It is regarded as a significant act of betrayal by many fans for a Leeds player to join Galatasaray. They know what he did for us.. Your choice, the official replied. 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. Gray, one of OLearys assistants, tried to focus his attention elsewhere. Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul on the eve of Leeds' Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray in April 2000. Will Griffee For Mailonline I didnt want to do it either. You dont take much notice of whats said because youre out there for a beer and a laugh. Galatasaray advance to Ziraat Trkiye Kupas . Leeds fans RAGING at Ezgjan Alioski transfer links to Galatasaray Its a strange thing but its important to me. 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. 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. Outside, Leeds fans reportedly taunted Turkish men. He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. He sees it now as a necessary shock to the system. galatasaray leeds death - kikuyajp.com He just happened to run into some tossers with knives., George was so young that the aftermath almost strayed into boyhood adventure. The facilities are great. People know me because of my dad, he says. The Loftus family gave up on campaigning for justice in Turkey because they did not think the system cared about them. He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. 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. It was horrible. 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. He has a busy job as an electrician and a twinkle in his eye. 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. Everything was muddled. The security guard who was in Turkey with the clubs players and directors is into his 50s and taking it easy after neck surgery. The manager of Leeds, David O'Leary, had voiced fears of being met at the airport by "a 100-strong rentamob". 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. More importantly, we needed to find out what state the two lads were in and whether we could help them.. Bitexen Giresunspor 0 - 4 Galatasaray MORE. Twenty years on from Istanbul: the night when football became murder Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. 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. It's a fantastic city and I'm willing to learn. Away tickets were limited to 80, which effectively covered only senior Galatasaray officials. Andy is one of six siblings, two sisters and four brothers, and all of the boys Phil, Chris, Darren and Andy made the trip to Turkey. galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. You got paid each month and you did this, Andy says, gesturing as if to push a wad of banknotes into a drawer. Alioski had less of a cross to bear. I didnt feel that their response was what our response would have been. They carried beer glasses outside, we couldn't stop them, and others followed." I know bits and bats but it doesnt help me to go over it, he says. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. 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. 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. As kick-off drew near, the drums and the noise from the stadium filtered down to the Ali Sami Yens subterranean dressing rooms. Tragedy that awaited two fans on a journey to hell Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. The bodies were repatriated a few days later, beginning the process of mourning and funerals. When he arrived at the hospital, Darren was in a bed with head injuries. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". Kevin Fallows was the clubs head of security and travelled with the players to all their fixtures in Europe. (Main photo of Kevin Speight with his son George and daughter Holly). zhuri james net worth 2021 / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder. My mum flicked it straight off again. For long periods, none of those found guilty spent time behind bars. Football authorities condemned the riots and threatened to expel national football teams from European competition if such events happened again. The cause of the fighting which broke out after dark in Istanbul was a subject of fierce contention in the weeks after the stabbings. As. He can picture the facade as he entered and the floorplan of the area where other injured Leeds fans had congregated; where Speight lay on an operating table, desperate for surgery. When we got to the bottom of the stairs they pulled out a drawer, a bit like a filing cabinet, and Christophers body was there. Thats what they were, kids. 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. That deal took Kewell back to a stadium where he and Leeds once needed protection with riot shields. The Turkish side are hated by those at Elland Road after two travelling fans were stabbed to. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. A lot of what the police were doing was pure intimidation, Fallows says. Galatasaray fans entered the area shortly afterwards which precipitated a fight between the two sets of supporters. They all say no. 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. The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up." The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. The Speights were a close family who lived in the Yorkshire village of Farsley, where Kevin Speight was landlord of the Bay Horse pub. SOCCER; Amid Heightened Security, Galatasaray Defeats Leeds Galatasaray tragedy will stay with Leeds United and Eirik Bakke forever "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. 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. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. UEFA, after a week of consideration, agreed with Leeds. 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. They knocked back as much Elfe (lager), Jack Daniels and Bacardi as I could pour.". The brothers went to the British Embassy but, in Andys words, found them to be worse than useless. Kewell was quoted after joining Galatasaray as saying that to blame Galatasaray for the tragedy in Istanbul is simply wrong and discriminatory. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. 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. As injured and angry Leeds fans came through, he did what he could. She knows who he was but its not the same.. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. 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. 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]. Acquittal plea in soccer death trial. The second leg was totally different. Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. Gjanni Alioski Leeds to Galatasaray transfer talks end for - TEAMtalk Send any friend a story. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. Demir lost his last appeal in 2010 and was jailed for six years and eight months. [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. Uefa, after consultation with the clubs and the Turkish authorities, wavered but eventually decided to go ahead. (Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt AMA/Getty Images). They felt we were overreacting. In all the many layers of anger, that was one of them; the apparent inability to adopt some common decency. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. He visited his fathers body in the chapel of rest across the road, bringing pictures he had drawn for him with felt tips. I can only go on what my mum said, but my dad was nothing like that.