2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence
The 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence in
Background
Leeds qualified for the UEFA Cup through finishing fourth in the
Events
The violence occurred at 21:00 in Istanbul's Taksim Square during a fight between Leeds fans and Galatasaray fans the day before their UEFA Cup semi-final first leg at Galatasaray's Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul on 6 April 2000.[5][6]
Turkish accounts of the events stated that Leeds fans had been taunting people from local bars, which led to the
The first moments of the fight are unclear with witness accounts of the brawl either being started by Leeds fans throwing beer glasses at Galatasaray fans and insulting the
Aftermath
In 2002, after an adjournment from 2001 where some of the defendants failed to appear in court,[12] Demir was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment[10] which was reduced from 30 years as it was not clear who was the sole cause of the deaths.[8] This sentence was negatively received by residents of Istanbul who said that Demir was a "patriot".[13] In 2005, he was released for a retrial after a change in Turkish law and after an appeal in 2003 was successful.[14] Eventually one of the Turkish attackers was sentenced to 10 years, while three others were sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison.[15]
Because of the stabbings, Leeds United banned Galatasaray fans from attending the second leg at Elland Road, claiming that the safety of fans inside the stadium could not be guaranteed and asked for Galatasaray fans not to travel to England.[16] Galatasaray in response asked for the match to be played at a neutral venue or for Leeds fans to be banned from the match as well.[17] In the end, Galatasaray fans were banned from the match. UEFA supported the ban and only 80 tickets were issued to Galatasaray for officials and representatives of the Turkish government.[18] This led to an angry reaction from Galatasaray's vice-president who called the decision "disgusting" and by the Turkish State Minister who said that Leeds were trying to turn the murders into an advantage.[19] Leeds United chairman, Peter Ridsdale, responded by claiming that Galatasaray were showing a lack of respect and said that Galatasaray should withdraw from the UEFA Cup if they did not accept the ban.[11]
The day after the violence; flowers, scarves and shirts were laid outside the Elland Road gates in tribute.[12] The statue of former Leeds United captain Billy Bremner which was outside the stadium also had a black armband placed on it as a symbol of the club mourning.[20] Leeds United installed a brass plaque in Elland Road to remember those who had been killed in the violence.[21] Leeds' Premier League match against Arsenal the Sunday before the second leg was marked by Arsenal players laying flowers at all four corners of Elland Road and a minute's silence being held before the match started in respect for the death of the two Leeds fans.[22]
Before the second leg, Ridsdale took out advertisements in British newspapers calling for calm, with the messages in the adverts also being translated into Turkish. Despite this, West Yorkshire Police warned local Turkish businesses to close early. When Galatasaray officials arrived at Elland Road for the second leg, hundreds of Leeds fans attacked the coaches that were carrying them which delayed the kick-off of the second leg.[23] During the first minute of the match, Leeds fans turned their backs on the match in protest at what was viewed as a lack of justice.[21]
Leeds lost the tie 4–2 on aggregate. On the day of
The next season, Leeds United were drawn against Turkish side
The events are used by some football supporters to antagonize Leeds fans. It has been used by
In 2015, Galatasaray player Wesley Sneijder apologised after he advertised a set of knives bearing his image on the eve of the 15th anniversary.[33][34]
References
- ^ "England 1998/99". Rec.Sports.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 20 December 1999. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "UEFA Europa League 1999/00 – All matches". UEFA. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ a b "UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup 1999–2000". Rec.Sports.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "Leeds aim to avoid Turkish roasting". BBC News. 5 April 2000. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ Chris Morris (6 April 2000). "Two Leeds fans die in soccer fight". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Turk 'admits' stabbing Leeds fan". BBC News. 7 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b c Will Woodward; Rory Carroll; Daniel Taylor; David Ward (7 April 2000). "Tragedy that awaited two fans on a journey to hell". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b Hugh Muir (1 May 2002). "15 years for Leeds fans' killer". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Uefa bans Turkish fans". BBC News. 14 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b Stokes, Paul (2 May 2002). "Turk jailed for killing Leeds fans". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Four charged with murder; Leeds boss hits out". CNN. 10 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Leeds deaths trial adjourned". BBC News. 24 December 2001. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Turkey still angry over fans' behaviour". BBC News. 1 May 2002. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Leeds fans' murder suspect freed". BBC News. 18 January 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Leeds fans' murder suspect freed". BBC News. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ "Leeds United bans Galatasaray fans". Hurriyet Daily News. 9 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "More arrests over Leeds deaths". BBC News. 8 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Turks' fury at Uefa ban". BBC News. 15 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Leeds relief, Turkish anger at fans ban". Irish Independent. 15 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Fans' anguish at deaths". BBC News. 6 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b Press Association (5 April 2010). "Leeds head call for justice on 10th anniversary of Istanbul killings". Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ Hughes, Rob (19 April 2000). "Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch – It Is a Matter of Life Or Death, Sometimes". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Violence delays kick-off". BBC News. 20 April 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ Campbell, Denis (14 May 2000). "Soldiers join hooligans to attack Turks in Cup clash". Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Security tightens ahead of Leeds match". BBC News. 26 September 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Peaceful draw at Besiktas-Leeds game". BBC News. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Leeds United urge supporters to turn their backs on 'vile chanting". The Guardian. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Leeds Utd v Man Utd: Police condemn 'shocking' violence". BBC News. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Two police officers injured and 21 fans arrested at Leeds v Manchester United Carling Cup match". Manchester Evening News. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- London Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Millwall bans fans for Turkey flag stunt in Leeds game". BBC Sport. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ Manchester United (19 November 2012). "Manchester United give Galatasaray's rowdy supporters the slip at the airport ahead of Champions League clash". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Wesley Sneijder apologises for tweeting knife set on anniversary of fatal Leeds fans stabbings". The Guardian. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ De Menezes, Jack (4 April 2015). "Wesley Sneijder apologises to Leeds' fans after posting tweet of Galatasaray-branded knife set on 15th anniversary of fan stabbing". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2015.