Leeds United's UEFA Cup semi-final second leg clash against Galatasaray will go ahead at Elland Road next Thursday with no Turkish fans. UEFA confirmed the announcement this morning nine days after the deaths of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight following violent clashes in Istanbul ahead of the first leg.
European soccer's governing body had spent the last few days weighing up the evidence and arguments from both sides before finally backing Leeds and delighted chairman Peter Ridsdale.
UEFA decided that the return match would go ahead as scheduled after the Bureau of the Committee for UEFA Club Competitions met under chairman Jean Fournet-Fayard of France over recent days. The decision was based on reports submitted by the official UEFA delegate at the first leg in Istanbul and the UEFA security officer, followed up by a review of the situation by the UEFA Stadia Committee, statements received from both clubs and a report from the West Yorkshire Police.
A UEFA statement reported, "On April 11, the West Yorkshire Police had informed UEFA that they would be unable to guarantee the safety of any visiting supporters travelling independently to the match." This report was submitted to the Turkish club who proposed that the match be played behind closed doors or at a neutral venue. This point of view was endorsed by the Turkish Football Association.
However, in reaching its conclusion, UEFA was aware that the decision would not meet unanimous approval but decided to cancel the sale of tickets to Turkish supporters. This means that the 1,750 purchase tickets allocated to Galatasaray SK for the match at Elland Road are declared invalid and must be returned immediately to UEFA. These tickets will be retained by UEFA and the areas to the stadium to which they relate will, in principle, remain empty.
There are, however, 80 complimentary tickets allocated to Galatasaray SK which may be "distributed by the Turkish team to persons who, in the opinion of the club, will behave in a dignified and restrained manner. They, along with directors, players, staff and media representatives, will be regarded as Galatasaray SK's official party," read the UEFA statement.
Meanwhile a Turkish prosecutor said today he had formally charged four men with murder after the deaths of the two Leeds United fans in street clashes last week and demanded they spend up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutor Osman Ikizoglu said he had filed an indictment charging four suspects with the murders of Britons Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight.
