Leeds United and Blackburn fans remembered Kevin Speight and Chris Loftus with dignity on the 15th anniversary of their murder prior to our UEFA cup semi final first leg against Galatasary, however the classless Turkish club picked Saturday morning to launch a new-range of £22 kitchen knives endorsed by Dutch striker Wesley Sneijder on Twitter.

Although the Dutch striker hastily deleted the tweet, apologised and pleaded ignorance to the gaffe, the damage was done and I have no doubt that given a decade and half of little or no compassion from Turkey over the deaths this was more than a horrible coincidence.

It was on Wednesday April 5th 2000 that lifelong Leeds fans Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed to death in Taksim Square, Istanbul on the eve of our UEFA Cup semi-final clash against Galatasary. The game controversially went ahead, the hosts winning 2-0 and progressing through to the final with a 2-2 draw at Elland Road a fortnight later - a game which saw Harry Kewell, who so sickenly would later play for the Turkish club, get sent-off.

Thousands of placards were held aloft before and during the minutes' silence, floral tributes were placed behind the goals and many were left at the foot of the Billy Bremner statue which became a shrine to the two dead fans 15 years ago.

It is reassuring to see in a game plagued by cynicism that memories of this tragedy and the two fans have not been forgotten. RIP Kevin and Chris.

Photo: Action Images

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