galatasaray leeds death

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Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder apologises to Leeds fans over knife set Even so, the counterargument holds water. On each trip he would set up a desk in the corridor where the team were staying, a point of contact in case of any problems. 12/02/2021 . Galatasaray - Detailed squad 22/23 | Transfermarkt 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. The Loftuses had travelled to Turkey on the same flight as David OLearys players. For long periods, none of those found guilty spent time behind bars. The interview included vague expressions of regret but no apology to Speight and Loftus or their relatives. Try a week on us. 'There were a lot of other clubs out there but this is perfect for me. 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. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. [7] The ban was supported by UEFA and only 80 tickets were issued to Galatasaray for officials and representatives of the Turkish government. It was our way of making sure the cameras and the world took notice of us.. The city centre was tense but, thanks to a massive police presence, mainly empty. But he was not and the atmosphere was initially warmer than normal. Then a good mate of mine appeared and said thered been a bit of trouble. Welcome to Hell, Galatasaray liked to say. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The 45-year-old was an unused sub when Leeds were defeated by Galatasaray in an infamous 1999-00 Uefa Cup semi-finals - a match that was overshadowed by the death of two Yorkshire fans in the . Former club legend Harry Kewell previously soured his relationship with Leeds fans after moving to Galatasaray from Liverpool in 2008. Two lives lost and two lives wasted, for nothing. Twenty Leeds fans, witnesses to the fight, were interviewed. But he didnt make much of it, like it was something of nothing. The passing of time is there in all of them. The friend who arranged their trips abroad organised for them to fly home via Brussels. [40], The Danish police were also criticised for their handling of the riots. 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. He was eight when the deaths occurred and he was 25 when he came to England as a professional. The slit-throat gestures from fans as we arrived on the bus. He rushed to Taksim hospital, near where the men were stabbed. The road to justice for the Speight and Loftus families was long and demoralising. Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman, had been dining with directors from Galatasaray when reports of trouble came through. Some headed for the James Joyce pub 200 metres away and joined a sing-song against Galatasaray. It also contains a table with average age, cumulative market value and average market value for each player position and overall. The brother of one of two Leeds United fans killed in Turkey 20 years ago says his death is "still fresh in my memory". On the 20th anniversary of their deaths, he said: "I suffered quite badly after it happened. Everyones different., A brass plaque commemorating Speight and Lofus was set into brickwork outside Elland Road in 2001. 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. We were just trying to control the worst situation imaginable.. Leeds supporters who were present denied causing trouble and the UK coroner who presided over the inquest, David Hinchliff, stated in unequivocal terms that Speight and Loftus were the innocent victims of a deliberate ambush. The families of the victims will tell you that. "Kevin had two young children. 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 described the Turkish policing as diabolical and out of control. Mr Loftus's brother Andy said: "I know it may seem a long time but it's still very much like yesterday really.". 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. Its completely different. They didnt care., The Speights were different and left the criminal cases alone. As a Turkish man is found guilty in Istanbul of murdering two Leeds United fans, the BBC gauges the reaction of local people. Wed heard that Istanbul could be a bit dangerous but we never thought anything of it, Andy says. Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch : It Is a Matter of Life Or Death, Sometimes. 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. Galatasaray supporters, despite everything that had gone on, were pelting the buses and trying to smash the windows. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. 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). "It's just a bit of a rollercoaster ride really but we get by," he said. Eddie Gray is crouching down as he runs up from underground and into the open air. When they came back to Elland Road they thought our request for no away fans was inappropriate. Kewell was quoted after joining Galatasaray as saying that to blame Galatasaray for the tragedy in Istanbul is simply wrong and discriminatory. It was obvious that Galatasaray were making no concession for what had taken place, so that was our form of protest. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? 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. 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The police warned a postponement could cause more trouble. Galatasaray fans entered the area shortly afterwards which precipitated a fight between the two sets of supporters. In contrast, what Leeds saw in Galatasaray was a baffling lack of sympathy. They had been a couple since their teens. 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. If you ask me now if I made the right or wrong decision by playing it, I still dont know, Ridsdale says. 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. I knew the ramifications would be life-long.. It wasnt a proper A&E unit. They knocked back as much Elfe (lager), Jack Daniels and Bacardi as I could pour.". Gray remembers OLeary going out of the team hotel to visit a barbers for a shave beforehand. 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. 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. How can it be that two lads go to watch a football game and dont come back?. It triggered something and I ran into the ward. So Leeds did. Scuffles broke out but the police moved in and fans scattered. galatasaray leeds death. 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. Without his help, my mum would have been a bit lost, George says. junio 12, 2022. abc news anchors female philadelphia . He had a passion for Lambretta scooters and spent his spare time fixing old models in his mothers garden. The loss ofKevin Speight and Christopher Loftus is still felt incredibly deeply and the feud between the clubs remains. I just said to them, Good luck., Galatasarays reputation went before them. [37] Leeds United also banned three of their fans from Elland Road after they had been identified in pictures of the riots. galatasaray leeds death - kikuyajp.com Leeds Crown Court sentenced him to 12 months. The first the Leeds players heard of the incident in Taksim Square was when phone calls started reaching them in their hotel. In the circumstances, it was a total irrelevance and too highly-charged. galatasaray leeds death According to a waiter at a nearby restaurant, the Turkish club's fanatical fans had heard through the grapevine that trouble was brewing. Leeds and Galatasaray fans clashed in violent scenes 21 years agoat 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square. I looked at Eddie, he looked at me, we smiled a nervous smile and both said the same thing: Lets go.. CATEGORIES . 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. 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. Im not sure Ive even processed it now. Gray, a Glaswegian, was in the Celtic end with his wife Linda on the day of the Ibrox disaster in 1971. Both had numerous other wounds. [23] The violence, which included fans from other English clubs[24] and Turks living in Denmark,[25] lasted for 45 minutes. I dont know why.. 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Kewell grew up in Leeds academy and was in the starting line-up for both legs against Galatasaray. 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. A fortnight ago, Ridsdale was voted onto the EFLs board. There were a few Turkish fans outside the bars we started drinking in but we didnt think much of it. More importantly, we needed to find out what state the two lads were in and whether we could help them.. Maybe, he says, and his voice tails off. For Leedss staff and players, the details of what had occurred in Taksim Square the night before remained sketchy until after full-time. 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. Everything about that whole occasion was shocking. Your choice, the official replied. The cause of the fighting which broke out after dark in Istanbul was a subject of fierce contention in the weeks after the stabbings. I think those who arrived later knew what to expect.". They know what he did for us.. To this day, it is used as a tribute every time the anniversary comes round. The Turkish. 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. My sisters had a word and told me to sort myself out. You were dealing with young lads and the last thing you wanted to do was scare them.. Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's coach, had whipped up his side's supporters. [16] Dineen was released from hospital later in the day and attended the match as a guest of the Arsenal directors. "Their chanting should make Ali Sami Yen [the Galatasaray stadium] hell for Leeds United.". Any time I think about what happened, I ask the same question. The fan responded: "If you did not know then fair enough but your club certainly did and they should be ashamed of themselves. George has no recollection of his dad leaving for Istanbul or of him saying goodbye. [12] However, there were conflicting reports, with claims that some Galatasaray fans were instigating some of the violence. [39] Later on, British media blame also transferred towards Galatasaray fans. Football authorities condemned the riots and threatened to expel national football teams from European competition if such events happened again. 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. Theyd turned on their tellies and it was all over the Turkish news, Fallows says. He sees it now as a necessary shock to the system. And worse things too. Ill be honest, by the time we were kicking off I had no idea why we were playing. Its a game. I stood there with Eddie Gray, Fallows says. Anyone can read what . [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. "Most were kind, but there were five or six really crazy guys. Loftus, 35, was a telephone engineer and an easy-going lad. Association with the tragedy can be difficult. Galatasaray 2-1 Trabzonspor MORE. It was totally deliberate. 15:32 EST 23 Mar 2021. [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. [29], In all, four people were stabbed during the riots: two English, one Turkish and one Dutch fan. [6] Demir was later found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, but released in 2004. 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. 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. You dont take much notice of whats said because youre out there for a beer and a laugh. She knows who he was but its not the same.. They just looked at me like I was stupid.. 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. [42] Arsenal fans also criticised the police, claiming that they had been slow to intervene and were "too soft" on the hooligans. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. It is his life and his career, much as the option of Galatasaray was incapable of arising without anyone passing comment. We could only do what we thought was best at that moment. The journey to the stadium prior to kick-off made him wish he had forfeited it and taken the consequences. 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. 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. The driver said hed turn it off but I wanted to listen to it. Gala is an awful football club and Alioski is an awful footballer. This led to the two Leeds fans being stabbed. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Hed just met a girl. Gray, one of OLearys assistants, tried to focus his attention elsewhere. Spencer interrupted dinner to advise Ridsdale that they should return to the hotel immediately. This led to 19 injuries, including 4 stabbings, and 60 arrests with similar events occurring in England and Turkey in the aftermath of the riots. Looking at it from where the fans were standing, Id have been as angry as them. George is different. I dont know if the club encouraged them to do that but you were well aware of objects hitting the shields. Send any friend a story. Has to be the biggest DO NOT for any Leeds player!! Tragedy that awaited two fans on a journey to hell 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. 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. 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. 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. When he arrived at the hospital, Darren was in a bed with head injuries. 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.