galatasaray leeds death

Then a good mate of mine appeared and said thered been a bit of trouble. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". So Leeds did. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. But the Leeds fans do not see it that way. As. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. I went off the rails, he says. 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. 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. At this juncture, it should be said that Kewell and Alioski were not identical. By 10.30pm some of the rowdiest fans left the James Joyce and joined a crowd outside McDonalds just off Taksim Square. But he didnt make much of it, like it was something of nothing. It also contains a table with average age, cumulative market value and average market value for each player position and overall. Ill be careful here but I have to say that I felt uncomfortable welcoming Galatasarays delegates to Elland Road. Give our social media channels a follow . He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. It wasnt a proper A&E unit. My mum always says the same: Hed gone out there for the football, nothing else. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. And there was the time when Speight took him to Elland Road and George, in his infancy, mistakenly cheered when the opposition scored. "Once more English hooligans, once more, blood," said the mainstream Hurriyet newspaper. So Leeds did. 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Obviously he liked his football too. Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. Loftuss brother Andy jokes that he had thicker hair back in the day. The Turkish police didnt give a shit about us. Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. They will never be forgotten.. 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. Fri 7 Apr 2000 20.36 EDT. At the hotel, Phil went up to his room. [23] The violence, which included fans from other English clubs[24] and Turks living in Denmark,[25] lasted for 45 minutes. The connection was not comparable to Kewells. Turkish eye-witnesses accused Leeds fans of insulting women, defacing the Turkish flag, urinating in the street and tipping over a car. By the time the match kicked off, the ramifications of two fatal stabbings the previous. Some claimed the English sparked it by throwing beer glasses at passing women pedestrians. 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. As a Turkish man is found guilty in Istanbul of murdering two Leeds United fans, the BBC gauges the reaction of local people. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. We looked up the steps and all you could see at the top was the dark sky and riot shields around the entrance to the pitch. In its opinion, contesting the game was the least worst option. You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare them.. From 5pm local time more than 100 Leeds fans had arrived shouting, singing and demanding beer, according to Batu Dedeler, the bar owner. [13], On the Wednesday at 1:00, Galatasaray fans attacked a bar in Strget in Copenhagen, where some Arsenal fans were located. [38] The photos led to some postmen working for Royal Mail losing their jobs because they had been seen in the photos and in television coverage,[46] even though they had not been arrested. sauce pizza and wine mac and cheese. 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. Shes struggled with it more than I have because shes got nothing there. I thought about Graeme Souness running and planting a Galatasaray flag in the middle of the pitch at Fenerbahce. One of 13 Turks arrested in Istanbul has confessed to stabbing Leeds United fan Christopher Loftus, whose body is expected . He sees it now as a necessary shock to the system. I think those who arrived later knew what to expect.". galatasaray leeds death; marfan criteria calculator; galatasaray leeds death. [18] Later, large numbers of Galatasaray fans congregated in Copenhagen's City Hall Square, raising the Turkish flag in the square. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. They had been a couple since their teens. Thats just how the system worked. He liked a drink and a laugh, simple as that, Andy says. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. There was no minutes silence or acknowledgement of the deaths. The Turkish side are hated by those at Elland Road after two travelling fans were stabbed to. 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. Looking at it from where the fans were standing, Id have been as angry as them. I was amazed, he says. At the time he said: 'It was a tragic thing in football but we can't live in the past. This year is the 20th anniversary of the mens deaths in Istanbul and many of their relatives carry those events as if they happened yesterday. Bowyer leads out the Leeds team as the first leg went ahead (Photo: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images), A minutes silence is observed before the return leg at Elland Road (Photo: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images). zhuri james net worth 2021 / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes / low carb ground beef and spinach recipes One minute youre coming out of a bar, the next youve got people running to attack you. Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. Disgusting. The only thing I could compare it to is the One Love concert in Manchester (held after the terrorist bombing at the Manchester Arena in 2017) and thats purely because of how difficult the logistics of One Love were, he says. [30] A Danish police officer[22] and a Turkish cameraman were also injured in the riots. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. When he arrived at the hospital, Darren was in a bed with head injuries. Squad Galatasaray This page displays a detailed overview of the club's current squad. I knew the ramifications would be life-long.. Ill hear them saying, Thats Kevin Speights lad and I like that. Football is sport here and for many Istanbul residents Galatasaray - who won the league last Sunday - is football. There isnt much that unnerves me but that was quite a scary moment. He previously worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post as its chief football writer. I didnt catch everything but I heard enough. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. Following the two tragic deaths, local police arrested and charged four Galatasaray supporters with murder. 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. Both families come here each April 5, to lay flowers and let another year pass. Andys last memory of Chris is of him rolling his eyes sarcastically and ribbing him for leaving early, in brotherly style. 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. [17] This came after Arsenal had warned the police before the final that there could be hooligans travelling to Copenhagen. The interview included vague expressions of regret but no apology to Speight and Loftus or their relatives. The authorities imposed sentences on some of those who had originally escaped justice with Suleyman Gokhan Guven, Ali Baydar and Yilmaz Tutus given ten, six and five years in prison respectively. I heard the rumours that some Leeds fan wiped his arse with a Turkey flag and things like that but people tell me none of its true. 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. You mention him over Farsley way and people respect him. And worse things too. The Galatasaray fans were later attacked from behind by members of British hooligan firms seeking revenge for the Istanbul stabbings. At least nine other people, including six Leeds fans, were injured. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? According to one witness, a Turkish man was pushed to the ground and smashed his teeth on the pavement. I dont want to imply criticism of the hospital for that, Ridsdale says. 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. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. Turkish police, according to British of ficials, appeared to be taking the killings as seriously as they would hope. galatasaray leeds death. 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. My sympathy was with them. He started shouting for Christopher to wake up. Leeds had taken over an entire corridor at the five-star Kempinski and the squad were in their rooms, ready to sleep ahead of the game the next night. The driver said hed turn it off but I wanted to listen to it. I looked at Eddie, he looked at me, we smiled a nervous smile and both said the same thing: Lets go.. His financial record at Leeds was dismal and Leeds never forget about it. OFFICIAL DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE MORE. He was with Darren Loftus, Christopher's brother who had travelled with him, to identify his body. 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. Every year, the families of Kevin Speight and Chris Loftus place wreathes at the plaque and go together for a drink, to catch up and reflect. 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. 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. But it had to be done., In the circumstances, did it surprise Fallows that the game in Istanbul went ahead? galatasaray leeds death. Outside, Leeds fans reportedly taunted Turkish men. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. 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. 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 died in an operating theatre in the early hours of the morning, despite Leeds United paying for blood supplies to be rushed to him. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The pair were met by angry, upset and bewildered groups. I feel everything: anger, sadness. They thought we were looking for a sporting advantage, which is just incredible. British fans were outnumbered and chased up side streets. There was nothing you could say to him. Those killed were "attackers", it said. . The Speights were a close family who lived in the Yorkshire village of Farsley, where Kevin Speight was landlord of the Bay Horse pub. The story goes that he and his wife Susan got together after he offered her a lift on the back of one. Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. The set of knives, emblazoned with Galatasaray's colours, are produced by Dutch firm Senvi and are available for 22. The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up." But when it came to Istanbul, he and the club were remarkable in reacting quickly and with compassion. You ask them one by one if 20 years have helped them process what happened. [47] Michael Doherty, the chairman of the Communication Workers Union, and his brother Tom took Royal Mail to an Employment Tribunal for unfair dismissal claiming they had been acting in self-defence. 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. Its that attitude of, They must have gone looking for it. All the stuff about cars being tipped over, us disrespecting their women if youd been there, youd know. They reported that as one of them tried to give the kiss of life to Mr Loftus, he was set upon. I cant explain it but I got this weird feeling, he says. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. The Loftus family gave up on campaigning for justice in Turkey because they did not think the system cared about them. Fallows is convinced that Galatasaray and the Turkish police made deliberate attempts to rattle and unsettle away teams, forcing players to squeeze through tight lines of officers to gain entry to the ground and admitting thousands of home fans to the stadium hours before kick-off. I respect the Loftuses for fighting, 100 per cent. [38], In 2013, Arsenal invited Galatasaray to compete at their annual Emirates Cup tournament. At a local police station, at around 4am on April 6, Ridsdale was given a stark message by the UEFA representative who turned up there: play the game, or forfeit it and incur an automatic 3-0 defeat. Forty Leeds fans arrested in the scuffles were released without charge. Kevin Fallows was the clubs head of security and travelled with the players to all their fixtures in Europe. Absolutely amazed and totally stunned. (Main photo of Kevin Speight with his son George and daughter Holly). The Loftuses fought for justice for as long as they could. Its 20 years now but I dont think Ill ever get over it. Galatasaray 3-2 HangiKredi mraniyespor MORE. Eddie Gray is crouching down as he runs up from underground and into the open air. Galatasaray accused him of trying to gain an unfair sporting advantage. My mum struggled massively with it all and she still does now, George says. But he was not and the atmosphere was initially warmer than normal. Theyd been seeing each other for about six months.. It was obvious that Galatasaray were making no concession for what had taken place, so that was our form of protest. Loftus had been stabbed five times and Speight twice. Everything happened in a flash. [19] The Danish police then moved in to separate the fans, and moved the Galatasaray fans back towards the square. As chairman of Leeds, he told the UEFA official that it would make sense to postpone the first leg of the semi-final which Leeds and Galatasaray were about to play. David Davies, the Football Association's executive director, called it "frankly, the least worst option". 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. Past present or future..', A second added: 'Would much rather see one of the u23s get a chance at lb than Alioski for the rest of the season. Football authorities condemned the riots and threatened to expel national football teams from European competition if such events happened again. 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.". 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. You got paid each month and you did this, Andy says, gesturing as if to push a wad of banknotes into a drawer. 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. Our Daz was there and he told me the full story. It was completely against your idea of law and order. 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. 11 Feb 02 | Europe Turkish justice moves slowly . Soon, they arrived at a flight of steps and a spot which would generate one of the lasting images of the entire tragedy. Send any friend a story. Uefa, after consultation with the clubs and the Turkish authorities, wavered but eventually decided to go ahead. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. That is true. 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. Asked shortly afterwards whether he thought the tie would still go ahead, Mr Ridsdale said: "It's too early to say. Loftus, 35, was a telephone engineer and an easy-going lad. And thats without even mentioning what had gone on the night before with the two lads who were killed. pleasant grove high school / staff directory; dr omar suleiman wife esraa; ontario road trip summer; song baseball apple; waltham athletic club tennis schedule; galatasaray leeds death. 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. Speight arrived soon after and was seen chatting to midfielder Alan Smith as they walked through the breezy foyer at Ataturk Airport. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. Leeds fans have reacted furiously to reports that Ezgjan Alioski has agreed to move to Galatasaray. [36], In August 2000, Arsenal banned thirty-seven people involved in the Copenhagen riot from Arsenal's Highbury stadium. It was how away days in Europe played out. Phil grew up near Edinburgh in Scotland and is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. They didnt care., The Speights were different and left the criminal cases alone. ', Some wrote stronger messages, such as: 'Washed my hands with Alioski if he f***s off to those vermin. That decision drew much criticism, as well it might. For me, it didnt feel real. Fans in nearby bars remained unaware of the violence. I like that they remember him. 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. "They came into town to see. The cause of the fighting which broke out after dark in Istanbul was a subject of fierce contention in the weeks after the stabbings. One of our security lads had to go with the bus to a compound, some sort of a lock-up. [25] The British fans were later released without charge but were forbidden from returning to Denmark. By Thats what they were, kids. The first the Leeds players heard of the incident in Taksim Square was when phone calls started reaching them in their hotel. The day after the riots, FA Executive Director David Davies, issued an apology for the violence. Your mind was elsewhere., Harte also felt a delayed reaction. In May 2002 Demir, who admitted the stabbings, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with four other men imprisoned for three months each. (Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt AMA/Getty Images). "There's a lot of anger. That deal took Kewell back to a stadium where he and Leeds once needed protection with riot shields. By that stage he was exhausted. In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. I stopped getting involved eventually, Andy says. "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. 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. Alioski had less of a cross to bear. 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. It makes me proud. Like his father, George has the nickname Spag.

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