Leeds fans to be remembered 16 years on
A minute’s silence will be held at Elland Road this evening in memory of Leeds fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus.
A minute’s silence will be held at Elland Road this evening in memory of Leeds fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus.
Today marks 16 years since the pair travelled to Turkey to watch their beloved team in action but tragically never returned home.
Chris and Kevin were brutally murdered in Istanbul on the eve of our UEFA Cup semi-final fixture with Galatasaray in 2000.
A statement on Leeds United's website reads:
"Their memory will never be forgotten by Leeds United fans worldwide. Families and friends of Chris and Kevin long campaigned for justice following the events in Istanbul in April 2000, and in 2010 it was announced that Ali Umi Demir, Ali Baydar (six years, eight months), Suleyman Gokhan Guven (10 years) and Yilmaz Tutush (five years), who were all initially convicted of murdering Chris and Kevin, had lost their appeal and would return to prison to serve sentences totalling 28 years and four months. Tributes are paid yearly at the nearest home fixture to the anniversary of their passing, and tonight’s game with QPR will be no different as we ask those of you inside Elland Road to join us ahead of kick-off in holding a minute’s silence in remembrance of two fans who will always hold a special place in the hearts of everybody connected to Leeds United."