2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence

Fights between English and Turkish football fans November 2019 thumb|Istanbul's Taksim Square The 2000 UEFA Cup semi-final violence in Istanbul, Turkey, between fans of English football team Leeds United and Turkish team Galatasaray on 5 April 2000, the day before the first match of their UEFA Cup semi-final, led to two Leeds fans being stabbed to death by Galatasaray fans. Four men were arrested and charged with their murders. The deaths led to widespread outrage in England with Galatasaray fans being banned from attending the second leg in England. Background Leeds qualified for the UEFA Cup through finishing fourth in the 1998–99 Premier League.https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng99.html England 1998/99 Rec.Sports.Soccer Statistics Foundation 20 December 1999 24 May 2014 They reached the semi-final after defeating Partizan, Lokomotiv Moscow, Spartak Moscow, Roma and Slavia Prague.http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1999/matches/all/index.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120115040138/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1999/matches/all/index.html dead 15 January 2012 UEFA Europa League 1999/00 – All matches UEFA 27 September 2013 24 May 2014 Galatasaray qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing third in the group stage in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League.https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec199900.html UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup 1999–2000 Rec.Sports.Soccer Statistics Foundation 24 May 2014 They entered the third round defeating Bologna, Borussia Dortmund and Mallorca en route to the semi-final. Galatasaray had a reputation of creating a hostile atmosphere surrounding their home matches and Leeds travelled there aiming to reach the UEFA Cup Final in order to win in their last chance of silverware of their season.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/702980.stm Leeds aim to avoid Turkish roasting BBC News 5 April 2000 24 May 2014 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.Chris Morris https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/06/newsstory.uefa Two Leeds fans die in soccer fight The Guardian 6 April 2000 6 March 2013 Londonhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/704680.stm Turk 'admits' stabbing Leeds fan BBC News 7 April 2000 6 March 2013 Turkish accounts of the events stated that Leeds fans had been taunting people from local bars, which led to the Turkish police being called in to stop fights from breaking out. There were reports that a Galatasaray fan had run to a nearby telephone box to call for support when he saw Leeds fans arriving. Several Galatasaray fans, reportedly members of a gang called "The Night Watchmen",Hugh Muir https://www.standard.co.uk/news/15-years-for-leeds-fans-killer-6303930.html 15 years for Leeds fans' killer Evening Standard 1 May 2002 6 March 2013 entered the area shortly afterwards, precipitating a fight between the two sets of supporters which led to the two Leeds fans, Kevin Speight, 40, and Christopher Loftus, 37, being stabbed to death.Will Woodward Rory Carroll Daniel Taylor David Ward https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/07/newsstory.sport1 Tragedy that awaited two fans on a journey to hell The Guardian 7 April 2000 6 March 2013 London Police arrested Ali Umit Demir and three other men for the stabbings.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/712864.stm Uefa bans Turkish fans BBC News 14 April 2000 6 March 2013 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 Turkish flagStokes Paul https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/1392950/Turk-jailed-for-killing-Leeds-fans.html Turk jailed for killing Leeds fans Telegraph 2 May 2002 6 March 2013 London or being started by Galatasaray fans throwing chairs or ambushing Leeds fans with knives. Leeds supporter Steve Wilkinson, who suffered knife wounds to his leg and hand, said of the incident "This was a premeditated attack. 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. The police did nothing, in fact they were helping them beat us up."http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/news/2000/04/10/leeds_anger_ap/ https://archive.today/20130119133138/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/news/2000/04/10/leeds_anger_ap/ dead 19 January 2013 Four charged with murder; Leeds boss hits out CNN 10 April 2000 6 March 2013 Aftermath the follow-up riots in Copenhagen 2000 UEFA Cup final riots In 2002, after an adjournment from 2001 where some of the defendants failed to appear in court,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1726795.stm Leeds deaths trial adjourned BBC News 24 December 2001 6 March 2013 Demir was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment which was reduced from 30 years as it was not clear who was the sole cause of the deaths. This sentence was negatively received by residents of Istanbul who said that Demir was a "patriot".https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1962608.stm Turkey still angry over fans' behaviour BBC News 1 May 2002 6 March 2013 In 2005, he was released for a retrial after a change in Turkish law and after an appeal in 2003 was successful.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/4183285.stm Leeds fans' murder suspect freed BBC News 18 January 2005 6 March 2013 Eventually in 2007, Demir received a sentence of six years and eight months while three other men—Suleyman Gokhan Guven, Suleyman Aydin, Ali Baydar—were also convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years, six years, and five years respectively. Another man, Suleyman Aydin, was found guilty of affray and jailed for six months and 20 days. In 2010 Guven was recaptured by Turkish police after exhausting his appeals and made to serve four years in prison.http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=murderer-hooligan-caught-after-ten-years-of-hiding-2010-11-23 Leeds fans' murder suspect freed BBC News 23 November 2010 2 October 2013Men jailed for football murders BBC NEWS 13 June 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/6749287.stm BBC NEWS 2007 6 August 2026 Two Turkish men convicted in absentia of stabbing British soccer fans captured Metroland Media 24 November 2010 https://www.guelphmercury.com/news/two-turkish-men-convicted-in-absentia-of-stabbing-british-soccer-fans-captured/article_d477a5bc-285f-5eba-b1d0-cdc59cb1b124.html 6 August 2026 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.http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=leeds-united-bans-galatasaray-fans-2000-04-09 Leeds United bans Galatasaray fans Hurriyet Daily News 9 April 2000 6 March 2013 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.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/705995.stm More arrests over Leeds deaths BBC News 8 April 2000 6 March 2013 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.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/713835.stm Turks' fury at Uefa ban BBC News 15 April 2000 6 March 2013 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.http://www.independent.ie/world-news/leeds-relief-turkish-anger-at-fans-ban-26120134.html Leeds relief, Turkish anger at fans ban Irish Independent 15 April 2000 6 March 2013 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. thumb|left|Leeds vs Arsenal before the second leg The day after the violence; flowers, scarves and shirts were laid outside the Elland Road gates in tribute. 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.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/703587.stm Fans' anguish at deaths BBC News 6 April 2000 6 March 2013 Leeds United installed a brass plaque in Elland Road to remember those who had been killed in the violence. 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.Hughes Rob https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/19/sports/19iht-soccer.2.t_14.html Grieving Leeds Faces Galatasaray Rematch – It Is a Matter of Life Or Death, Sometimes The New York Times 19 April 2000 6 March 2013 thumb|Leeds playing Galatasaray in the second leg 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.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/720330.stm Violence delays kick-off BBC News 20 April 2000 6 March 2013 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.Press Association https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/05/leeds-kevin-speight-chris-loftus Leeds head call for justice on 10th anniversary of Istanbul killings Guardian 5 April 2010 6 March 2013 London Leeds lost the tie 4–2 on aggregate. On the day of the final in Copenhagen, Denmark, members of Leeds United's hooligan firm the Leeds United Service Crew, joined members of other British hooligan firms led by Arsenal's firm. In Copenhagen, they met up in order to enact revenge attacks on Galatasaray fans in City Hall Square.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/may/14/uefa.football Soldiers join hooligans to attack Turks in Cup clash Guardian 14 May 2000 6 March 2013 London Denis Campbell The next season, Leeds United were drawn against Turkish side Beşiktaş in the Champions League. Security surrounding both matches was increased and planned several months in advance. Because of the tensions caused by the stabbings in Istanbul, only 70 Beşiktaş fans travelled to Leeds. They had originally been booked onto an official Beşiktaş chartered flight; however, it was cancelled, as was pre-match hospitality prepared by Leeds' directors.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/942575.stm Security tightens ahead of Leeds match BBC News 26 September 2000 6 March 2013 The flight, sponsored by Beşiktaş fans, was cancelled because only 70 out of a hoped-for 500 fans wanted to go to the match. In the return leg, Beşiktaş placed Leeds fans, who had been escorted through the airport, on an alcohol-free cruise around the Bosphorus Strait before being transported by bus to the BJK İnönü Stadium in Istanbul before the match.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/979194.stm Peaceful draw at Besiktas-Leeds game BBC News 18 October 2000 6 March 2013 The events are used by some football supporters to antagonize Leeds fans. It has been used by Sheffield Wednesday,Leeds United urge supporters to turn their backs on 'vile chanting https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/oct/23/leeds-united-turn-backs-chanting 2 October 2020 The Guardian 23 October 2012 Millwall and Manchester United fans.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-15001575 Leeds Utd v Man Utd: Police condemn 'shocking' violence BBC News 21 September 2011 6 March 2013 Manchester United fans also brought banners to Leeds matches referencing the murders in Istanbul.http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/two-police-officers-injured-and-21-871200 Two police officers injured and 21 fans arrested at Leeds v Manchester United Carling Cup match Manchester Evening News 29 September 2011 23 January 2014 In 2009, a Millwall supporter was banned from the New Den for life after taunting Leeds fans about the events whilst wearing a Galatasaray shirt.Jones Dean 26 October 2009 Millwall to ban fan for Galatasaray taunts London Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/millwall-to-ban-fan-for-galatasaray-taunts-6719590.html 25 November 2020 In 2011, four more Millwall fans were banned from attending the club's matches for waving Turkish flags at a match against Leeds.Millwall bans fans for Turkey flag stunt in Leeds game https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-13038849 2 October 2020 BBC Sport 11 April 2011 Galatasaray fans used similar chants before their UEFA Champions League match in 2012 against Manchester United.Manchester United https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9689371/Manchester-United-give-Galatasarays-rowdy-supporters-the-slip-at-the-airport-ahead-of-Champions-League-clash.html Manchester United give Galatasaray's rowdy supporters the slip at the airport ahead of Champions League clash Telegraph 19 November 2012 6 March 2013 London In 2015, Galatasaray player Wesley Sneijder apologised after he advertised a set of knives bearing his image on the eve of the 15th anniversary.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/04/galatasaray-wesley-sneijder-tweets-knife-set-anniversary-fatal-leeds-stabbings Wesley Sneijder apologises for tweeting knife set on anniversary of fatal Leeds fans stabbings 4 April 2015 16 April 2015 The GuardianDe Menezes Jack https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/wesley-sneijder-apologises-to-leeds-fans-after-posting-tweet-of-galatasaraybranded-knife-set-on-15th-anniversary-of-fan-stabbing-10155611.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/wesley-sneijder-apologises-to-leeds-fans-after-posting-tweet-of-galatasaraybranded-knife-set-on-15th-anniversary-of-fan-stabbing-10155611.html 1 May 2022 subscription Wesley Sneijder apologises to Leeds' fans after posting tweet of Galatasaray-branded knife set on 15th anniversary of fan stabbing 4 April 2015 16 April 2015 The Independent In May 2025, a photo of Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu's son wearing a Galatasaray kit began circulating on social media to mass condemnation from Leeds supporters. Leeds soon put out a statement absolving Ampadu of involvement, stating that the photo had been taken by Ampadu's ex-partner who he had separated from several months earlier, declaring Ampadu "has no responsibility for the image in question" and "is aware of and sensitive to the tragic loss within the Loftus and Speight families".Club Statement: Ethan Ampadu 16 May 2025 Leeds United https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/club-statement-ethan-ampadu 17 May 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20260218122502/https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/club-statement-ethan-ampadu 18 February 2026 liveEthan Ampadu: Leeds United ask for captain's privacy to be respected 16 May 2025 BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce80572l5ggo 17 May 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250516153620/www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce80572l5ggo 16 May 2025 live In January 2026, in a Champions League league phase match between Manchester City and Galatasaray, City striker Erling Haaland appeared to perform the Leeds salute after scoring, with speculation fueled by Haaland's father Alf-Inge having played for Leeds United between 1997-2000, during which Erling was born.Sobot Lee Erling Haaland in apparent Leeds United act in Manchester City victory vs Galatasaray 29 January 2026 Yorkshire Evening Post https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-erling-haaland-manchester-city-galatasaray-champions-league-5494701 29 January 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260130022710/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-erling-haaland-manchester-city-galatasaray-champions-league-5494701 30 January 2026 live References External links Leeds United official website Galatasaray official website Category:Association football hooliganism semi-final violence semi-final violence Category:Football events in Turkey Category:Leeds United F.C. Category:Galatasaray S.K. (men's football) UEFA Category:April 2000 in Turkey Category:1999–2000 in Turkish football Category:Association football riots Category:Riots and civil disorder in Turkey Category:2000 riots Category:2000s in Istanbul Category:Knife attacks Category:Mass stabbings in Asia Category:Mass stabbings in Europe