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發表於 2008-7-8 09:46:52
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Kewell writes open letter to angry Leeds fans over Turkey deal
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryPublished Date: 08 July 2008
By Alan Robson
NEW Galatasaray signing Harry Kewell has defended his move to Istanbul, stressing it is not disrespectful to the two Leeds fans who were killed in the city eight years ago.
On Saturday the former Liverpool winger's transfer to the Turkish club was confirmed, sparking criticism that he should have considered the deaths of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight prior to their Uefa Cup semi-final with Galatasaray in 2000.
ADVERTISEMENTKewell was a Leeds player and fans' favourite at the time of the tragedy in April eight years ago when the two Leeds fans were stabbed to death following violence in Taksim Square in the Turkish capital the night before the game. The player then played in the highly-charged match at the Ali-Sami Yen Stadium less than 24 hours after the killings, with the travelling Leeds fans turning their backs on proceedings en masse to carry out their own minute's silence after it was decided that an official mark of respect would be asking for trouble at such a powderkeg fixture.
The remainder of Leeds' matches that season were extremely poignant as rival teams offered their own respective tributes to the dead Yorkshiremen during what was one of the most trying periods in the Elland Road side's history.
The incident almost certainly cost Leeds – under David O'Leary at the time – any chance of reaching the Uefa Cup final that season, as they crashed to a 4-2 aggregate defeat against the Turks, while their bid to qualify for the Champions League almost unravelled before the shell-shocked players rescued the situation just in time to pip Liverpool to third place. Many felt the tragedy had galvanised O'Leary's men for their remarkable charge to the Champions League semi-final the following season, but others see the events of 5 April, 2000, as a factor in Leeds' astonishing demise which now sees them languishing in England's third tier. Kewell's move from Elland Road to Liverpool in 2003 saw him branded a 'Judas' by Leeds fans, who felt he should have gone abroad instead of signing for another English club, as the club which had nurtured his talent lurched into financial turmoil. However, the Australia international's latest move has been met with even stronger hostility by the Yorkshire side's fans, who still bear a grudge against the Turkish club and their fans.
But Kewell, below, has issued an open letter to Leeds fans insisting he has not been disrespectful to the club with which he spent eight years. "My love and respect for Leeds United and what the club has done for me will never change, no matter what anyone says about me and whatever their motives are," said the letter, sent to Sky Sports. "My sense of sorrow and sympathy for the families and friends of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight will always be with me. "I chose the No 19 shirt when I signed for Galatasaray as a sign of respect for Leeds because that was the number I got when I first became a regular member of the Leeds starting XI. I felt that it might be a way to demonstrate that I had not forgotten where it all started and I was hoping that in a small way it would help the healing process of the tragedy that occurred on the April 5, 2000. For me, sport should first and foremost be about the love of your game. But equally important is the respect for not only your team-mates but all those who you compete against.
"For this reason I have always objected to any form of discrimination in any sport. To blame the Galatasaray club for the tragedy in Istanbul is simply wrong and discriminatory."
Kewell's controversial move is the latest in a list of high-profile transfers which have led to a particularly hostile reaction from a set of fans. The likes of Maurice Johnston, the first Catholic ever to play for Rangers; Luis Figo, who switched from Barcelona to arch rivals Real Madrid; Paul Ince, who incensed West Ham fans when he signed for Manchester United; Eric Cantona, who left Leeds for bitter enemies Manchester United; and Sol Campbell, who left Tottenham for local rivals Arsenal, could all offer Kewell advice on how to deal with the vitriol currently heading his way.
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