How the violence started is unclear. It is part of Leeds Uniteds fabric and it will never disappear: the night when football became murder and so many lives were changed. Holmes says Andy was the life and soul of the party before Istanbul but the impact of Chriss death was severe. At no stage between arriving at the hospital and Leeds playing the first leg against Galatasaray the following night did Ridsdale sleep. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. 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. I know bits and bats but it doesnt help me to go over it, he says. That decision drew much criticism, as well it might. Ridsdale still struggles to accept Galatasarays indifferent reaction to the stabbings. 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. [25] The British fans were later released without charge but were forbidden from returning to Denmark. I had no idea where we were going or why we were going there, he says. When the second leg came round, in the dressing room we were trying to say, Come on, lets get stuck into them. But in the back of your mind youre putting football aside. Turkish police, according to British of ficials, appeared to be taking the killings as seriously as they would hope. What they were seeing was pretty graphic so we said to them, Turn the tellies off, go to bed and wait for us to get some proper details. The footage was grainy and frightening, capturing a helpless Loftus with bloodstains on his shirt. 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. 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. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. Some claimed the English sparked it by throwing beer glasses at passing women pedestrians. On the 20th anniversary of their deaths, he said: "I suffered quite badly after it happened. Football riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (May 2000). Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Follow Phil on Twitter @PhilHay_, George and Holly Speight with Peter Ridsdale after their fathers death. [17], Throughout the day large numbers of fans, both English and Turkish, were seen throughout the city and at the airport. I was totally speechless, totally shocked. 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. 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. As injured and angry Leeds fans came through, he did what he could. The loss ofKevin Speight and Christopher Loftus is still felt incredibly deeply and the feud between the clubs remains. At this juncture, it should be said that Kewell and Alioski were not identical. Shes struggled with it more than I have because shes got nothing there. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? "I haven't seen a single Englishman all day," said a newspaper vendor. They thought we were looking for a sporting advantage, which is just incredible. Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. ", Jack Connolly added: "That Wesley Sneijder knife launch is disgusting, scum of the earth.". Ali Umit . 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 brothers went to the British Embassy but, in Andys words, found them to be worse than useless. If you're Leeds, you don't move to a direct rival, simple. [23] The violence, which included fans from other English clubs[24] and Turks living in Denmark,[25] lasted for 45 minutes. It was how away days in Europe played out. 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. Matt White tweeted: "Wesley Sneijder tweeting a personalised Galatasaray knife set on the 15th anniversary of the murder of 2 Leeds fans in Istanbul? Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder. "They were screaming all sorts of things. Hed just met a girl. 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. 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. We switched on the telly and it was all over the news, George says. But if you back out, youll forfeit the game and incur a 3-0 defeat. 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. A week or so later, we lost 4-0 to Arsenal. 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. 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. He has a busy job as an electrician and a twinkle in his eye. 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. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? He must have been off his head., Ian Harte, the left-back, is more vivid in describing it. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. [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 didnt want to be standing there telling them what to do and I understood that they didnt want to hear it. George understands why but wishes with hindsight that he had been there. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. You got paid each month and you did this, Andy says, gesturing as if to push a wad of banknotes into a drawer. The first the Leeds players heard of the incident in Taksim Square was when phone calls started reaching them in their hotel. [37] Leeds United also banned three of their fans from Elland Road after they had been identified in pictures of the riots. I got a lot of abuse for that and no wonder. Anywhere else in Europe, I doubt it would have been played. And thats without even mentioning what had gone on the night before with the two lads who were killed. Ill be careful here but I have to say that I felt uncomfortable welcoming Galatasarays delegates to Elland Road. 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.". [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. And it is far too late to redress that now. Witnesses said he had been bludgeoned by police as he cradled a dying Chris in the street. One wrote: 'If Alioski goes there, his high regard and reputation with Leeds fans is destroyed!! It is regarded as a significant act of betrayal by many fans for a Leeds player to join Galatasaray. It was a lad from Shipley who I knew, Andy says. According to one witness, a Turkish man was pushed to the ground and smashed his teeth on the pavement. After a long legal process in Turkey, four men were jailed in 2010. Its a game. Can you list the top facts and stats about 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence? They then broke into an apartment building to threaten Kosovan refugees with a knife, mistakenly believing them to be Turkish. The morning after Loftus and Speight were killed, Fallows and Stokoe were asked by Ridsdale to visit every hotel where the clubs supporters were staying. Galatasaray 3-2 HangiKredi mraniyespor MORE. The Speights were a close family who lived in the Yorkshire village of Farsley, where Kevin Speight was landlord of the Bay Horse pub. We had a coach for the players and a coach for the directors, he says. The police claim he was punched. "Maybe they thought they were being funny but to Turks who do not speak good English, it was very offensive.". So Leeds did. Galatasaray beat English team Leeds United but their matches were marred by violence: two Leeds United fans were stabbed to death before their semi-final first leg at Galatasaray's Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul on 6 April 2000. He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. It was obvious that Galatasaray were making no concession for what had taken place, so that was our form of protest. The first time he went inside to be present, he sat with friends and cried. Harry Kewell is in front of him, carrying a ball and looking bewildered. In the circumstances, it was a total irrelevance and too highly-charged. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Life is good. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. Scuffles broke out but the police moved in and fans scattered. Mr Loftus from a plunging wound to his heart; Mr Speight, a few hours later after receiving a wound the length of his stomach. It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. Picture gallery: A black night for football, Fans urged to take steps to raise charity funds at home of Bradford City, Josh Richardson remains in critical condition after Thailand crash, Rob Burrow: Shock as vandals target Leeds Beckett Student Union mural dedicated to Leeds Rhinos legend, New data reveals train commuters spend up to 2450 more a year than car-owning colleagues, Wakey Wines viral TikTok shop owner responds after police drugs raid: All we sell is Prime & WFD sweets, Lonely Leeds man bravely reaches out for friends on Facebook as hundreds offer support and love, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Kewell grew up in Leeds academy and was in the starting line-up for both legs against Galatasaray. I stood there with Eddie Gray, Fallows says. 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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. You dont take much notice of whats said because youre out there for a beer and a laugh. Gray, a Glaswegian, was in the Celtic end with his wife Linda on the day of the Ibrox disaster in 1971. 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. They all say no. The connection was not comparable to Kewells. He has never spoken about his memories of Turkey before but, like Andy Loftus, says he wants to reflect 20 years on. 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. We tried to keep a lot of the information about what had happened [to Speight and Loftus] from them, rightly or wrongly. 2000 fights between English and Turkish football fans. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. Six people were arrested and three Metropolitan Police officers were injured. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. zhuri james net worth 2021 / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes The design of the place meant the Leeds players had to take a long walk to the tunnel, flanked by armed police. "There was nothing in the days running up to this match to suggest there would be this level of violence," Mr Hunt said. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. It sounds daft but I dont think I knew how to react. Within minutes, a pitched battle erupted. Without his help, my mum would have been a bit lost, George says. Trust us, this is only going to get worse., It didnt go down well, and I got that. UEFA also requested that fences be put up around the perimeter of the pitch. 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. 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. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. 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. Its a strange thing but its important to me. 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. Both had numerous other wounds. My sisters had a word and told me to sort myself out. [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. Bitexen Giresunspor 0 - 4 Galatasaray MORE. Spencer stepped in and paid with his personal credit card. "We came out of a bar and there were 100 people waiting for us with machetes, knives, bits of chair and table legs and they just attacked us. Galatasaray wanted me from the start. The plaque on the wall by Elland Roads East Stand says Never Forgotten and Leeds United swore themselves to those words. His financial record at Leeds was dismal and Leeds never forget about it. The Turkish media blamed the Leeds fans. I dont know why.. More importantly, we needed to find out what state the two lads were in and whether we could help them.. [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. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. ', And: 'Alioski can f*** off, he obviously knows the history between the two clubs.'. Football is sport here and for many Istanbul residents Galatasaray - who won the league last Sunday - is football. People speak well of him. [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. It was totally deliberate. Last year, on the 20th anniversary of the killings in Istanbul, The Athletic spoke to some of the people closest to the tragedy and some of the people most affected by it. I had joked with him and said, At least youll be safe. He gave me a look and said, Or maybe not., The attitude as far as I could see was, Lets intimidate these lads and see what happens. Leeds back then had a lot of kids in their squad.