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Welcome to Hell, Galatasaray liked to say. My instinct was that we had to know what was happening, Ridsdale says. 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. I make no secret of that., Leeds were beaten 2-0 in Istanbul and lost over two legs after a 2-2 draw at home. 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. He visited his fathers body in the chapel of rest across the road, bringing pictures he had drawn for him with felt tips. He was seven when Speight died, his sister Holly two. Speights son, George, is no longer the cheeky kid with floppy hair smiling brightly in the photograph of his father he digs out. Disgusting. Speight and Loftus were not close friends but knew each other in passing, as travelling football fans do. 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. Both had numerous other wounds. 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). That decision drew much criticism, as well it might. 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. He liked a drink and a laugh, simple as that, Andy says. 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. Football riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark (May 2000). [21] This lasted 20 minutes[19] before the Danish police attempted to break up the melee with dogs[22] and tear gas. For Leedss staff and players, the details of what had occurred in Taksim Square the night before remained sketchy until after full-time. I genuinely feared for our lives. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; a huge occasion for the club in a football sense, Ridsdale says. Harry Kewell (born 22 September 1978) is an Australian association football coach, manager and former player. By then, you knew exactly what had gone on and you knew the severity of it. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder. Give our social media channels a follow . The first time he went inside to be present, he sat with friends and cried. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". One minute youre coming out of a bar, the next youve got people running to attack you. 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. As a Turkish man is found guilty in Istanbul of murdering two Leeds United fans, the BBC gauges the reaction of local people. Nigel Martyn has exclusively told LeedsUnited.News that playing against Galatasaray in the first leg of the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000 - just 24 hours after the murders of two Leeds fans - is to this day, his biggest regret in football. "We did amazing business in one hour. [10] It was reported that members of Leeds United's Leeds United Service Crew[11] and Chelsea's Chelsea Headhunters, along with hooligans supporting Rangers, Cardiff City and Swansea City all travelled to Denmark to join Arsenal fans in attacks on Galatasaray fans. You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare them.. 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. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. After taking stock, he got involved with the cancer charity Candlelighters and helped raise almost 150,000 for local hospital facilities. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. Wesley Sneijder, a Dutch international who . More than a dozen police watched but initially did not intervene. Something went wrong, please try again later. A lot of what the police were doing was pure intimidation, Fallows says. Galatasaray away on April 6, 2000; "a huge occasion for the club in a football sense," Ridsdale says. I respect the Loftuses for fighting, 100 per cent. 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. Our Daz was there and he told me the full story. Leeds have never forgiven Eric Cantona for . Andy has paid for the plaque to be cleaned a couple of times and it could do with another polish now. A lot of what went on I dont want to know. People know me because of my dad, he says. If someone could have shown me those levels of intimidation, Id have refused to play the game unhesitatingly. Can you list the top facts and stats about 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence? Ridsdale is someone the Speights hold in high regard. It was completely against your idea of law and order. Read about our approach to external linking. The second leg was totally different. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. [37], In the United Kingdom, Arsenal fans were originally blamed for the violence as the police had fixed blame on them. 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. 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. Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. I dont know if the club encouraged them to do that but you were well aware of objects hitting the shields. 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. 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. It takes a certain amount of nerve to put a foot in both camps, which is doubtless why Harry Kewell was able to do so in 2008 when he left Liverpool for the Ali Sami Yen. My sympathy was with them. I tried telling Galatasarays staff to get them out. Your mind was elsewhere., Harte also felt a delayed reaction. They thought we were looking for a sporting advantage, which is just incredible. And worse things too. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. The images of that never grow old. Galatasaray 2-1 Trabzonspor MORE. It is wrong to presume to tell those who were affected by the events in Istanbul how to feel or how to react to a player taking Galatasarays money. 13:02 EST 23 Mar 2021 The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. George understands why but wishes with hindsight that he had been there. The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. 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. Bitexen Giresunspor 0 - 4 Galatasaray MORE. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. "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. My sisters had a word and told me to sort myself out. [3] Leeds fans had been drinking in bars reportedly taunting local people and Turkish police intervened to stop fights breaking out. Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or Death, Sometimes. Early relaxation gave way to brutal battle as rivals taunted each other, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In May 2002 Demir, who admitted the stabbings, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with four other men imprisoned for three months each. The routine for Andy and others who went abroad with Leeds was always the same: straight to the hotel, straight into town, straight on the beer. I could see in their faces how much they were raging, Fallows says. [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. I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. The first I knew of it was when they came out to tell me. Even now I get the feeling that people think we started it, Andy says. [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]. 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. When they came back to Elland Road they thought our request for no away fans was inappropriate. I thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. We tried to keep a lot of the information about what had happened [to Speight and Loftus] from them, rightly or wrongly. 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. It is his life and his career, much as the option of Galatasaray was incapable of arising without anyone passing comment. 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. Its a game. Will Griffee For Mailonline The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. 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. My mum struggled massively with it all and she still does now, George says. Another supporter who tried to resuscitate Chris was hit with batons. The Turkish media tried to blame English fans for provoking the violence by being drunk and disrespecting the Turkish flag. "They were screaming all sorts of things. According to a waiter at a nearby restaurant, the Turkish club's fanatical fans had heard through the grapevine that trouble was brewing. At the hospital, Ridsdale encountered absolute chaos. 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Holmes says Andy was the life and soul of the party before Istanbul but the impact of Chriss death was severe. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. [20], Then, in a calculated attack, approximately 500 Arsenal fans[19] attacked from the main road behind the Galatasaray fans. 12/02/2021 . George is different. [18] Arsenal fans congregated in nearby bars. We werent talking about Leeds General Infirmary. Speights treatment failed to save him. [45] It later arose that the majority of the people in the photos were either not involved or had been acting in self-defence. ", Jack Connolly added: "That Wesley Sneijder knife launch is disgusting, scum of the earth.". I stood there with Eddie Gray, Fallows says. Ridsdale agreed to send his wife and other officials back but instructed a car to take him and Spencer to Taksim Hospital. The Football Associations David Davies said playing the game was the least worst option. Both families come here each April 5, to lay flowers and let another year pass. Jesus. I was getting into trouble, drinking and fighting. He had been in touch with the Turkish authorities, and with Chief Superintendent Steve Matthews from West Yorkshire police, who travels abroad with Leeds fans on away trips, and his team of three or four officers acting as "spotters". Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. By [32] The rest were fined an equivalent of $500 and banned from Denmark for a year.[33]. 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]. Obviously he liked his football too. They all say no. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. The manager of Leeds, David O'Leary, had voiced fears of being met at the airport by "a 100-strong rentamob". We tried to raise awareness but it was a farce. Mr Loftus's brother Andy said: "I know it may seem a long time but it's still very much like yesterday really.". Squad Galatasaray This page displays a detailed overview of the club's current squad. [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. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. 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. 11 Feb 02 | Europe Turkish justice moves slowly . I didnt want to be standing there telling them what to do and I understood that they didnt want to hear it. His financial record at Leeds was dismal and Leeds never forget about it. Kevin Fallows was the clubs head of security and travelled with the players to all their fixtures in Europe. The design of the place meant the Leeds players had to take a long walk to the tunnel, flanked by armed police. Acquittal plea in soccer death trial. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. Andys last memory of Chris is of him rolling his eyes sarcastically and ribbing him for leaving early, in brotherly style. , updated Ali Umit . It sunk in quickly once we got home. 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. The first the Leeds players heard of the incident in Taksim Square was when phone calls started reaching them in their hotel. It felt to me like the police were trying to frighten us, he says. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. galatasaray leeds deathashtoreth worship practices. I looked at Eddie, he looked at me, we smiled a nervous smile and both said the same thing: Lets go.. 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 junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . The city centre was tense but, thanks to a massive police presence, mainly empty. #RIPChrisAndKev. The Danish police were also criticized for their mishandling of the riots. Hello Hell, We Are Leeds, read one banner carried by fans piling through Istanbul airport on Wednesday night. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. Their policing of City Hall Square in the days running up to the final was described as "non-existent" by Dineen. "I haven't seen a single Englishman all day," said a newspaper vendor. Ill be careful here but I have to say that I felt uncomfortable welcoming Galatasarays delegates to Elland Road. One of our security lads had to go with the bus to a compound, some sort of a lock-up. The Ali Sami Yen was in a league of its own in atmosphere terms, aggressive and ferocious for visiting sides. Chris and Kevin were brutally murdered in Istanbul on the eve of our UEFA Cup semi-final fixture with Galatasaray in 2000. [31] Nineteen of the arrested were British, thirty-six were Turkish and the rest of the arrested included people from Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. 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.". OFFICIAL DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE MORE. [2] The 2000 UEFA Cup Final Riots, also known as the Battle of Copenhagen,[1] were a series of riots in City Hall Square, Copenhagen, Denmark between fans of English football team Arsenal and Turkish team Galatasaray around the 2000 UEFA Cup Final on 17 May 2000. Several fans offered to foot the bill. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. 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. But in the light of day, the sun hits it and the sparkle lingers. 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. Confusion reigned. 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. In the context of football, that era was phenomenally good: Leeds in Europe and another trip to the continent always waiting around the corner. I like that they remember him. It was weird because when we got in the car, the game (Galatasaray versus Leeds) had just started and was on the radio, Andy says. Its the most terrified Ive ever been, he says. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The slit-throat gestures from fans as we arrived on the bus. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. But when it came to Istanbul, he and the club were remarkable in reacting quickly and with compassion. "Maybe they thought they were being funny but to Turks who do not speak good English, it was very offensive.". [17] This came after Arsenal had warned the police before the final that there could be hooligans travelling to Copenhagen. 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.