As officials, players and fans alike mourned Kevin Speight and Chris Loftus, an unsavoury storm brewed beyond the Billy Bremner statue.

Whilst the overwhelming feeling from Leeds was the game in Istanbul shouldn't have taken place, UEFA overruled the clubs wishes. However the decision makers were more sympathetic towards Leeds wish to ban visiting fans to the game at Elland Road a fortnight later. This was on the grounds of safety.

This caused outrage in Istanbul with the club "dignitaries" demanding that the second leg take place at a neutral ground and preferably in another country.

Leeds had reached the last four playing in two neutral venues, due to the political situation in Serbia and the bitter Russian winter, but there wouldn't be a third occasion as UEFA stood firm on their decision and Galatasary were restricted to just 80 tickets for their hierarchy.

It was absolutely the right decision. In stark contrast to the tragedy chanting that we so often hear today, a "lads army" of rival football fans uniting and seeking vengeance upon Turkish fans was growing momentum if Internet message boards were to believed.

Leeds had the small matter of a trip to Aston Villa just four days after the tragedy, losing 1-0. The following Sunday on an emotion charged matchday at Elland Road, Arsenal were the visitors. They were also UEFA Cup semi finalists, facing less daunting opposition in RC Lens who had future Leeds players Lamine Sakho and Olivier Dacourt in their side. Each of the Gunners players entered the field with a bouquet which was handed to a Leeds player. It was a classy act ahead of a class performance, the Gunners romping home to a 4-0 win and the assumed tag of favourites if there was to be an all English UEFA cup final in Copenhagen the following month.

Thursday April 20th 2000 is a night I wilm never forget, not for good reasons either. Me and my mates piled into the Whistlestop pub overlooking the ground. It was a subdued, muted atmosphere unlike the upbeat buzz which was normal on matchdays made even more surreal as shortly after 7pm the pub stopped serving under orders from the police, who had also advised Turkish businesses in the city against opening up.

We took our seats awash with a mixture of grief and anger, both sides wore black armbands and observed a minutes silence. But after just five minutes, the Maradona of the Carphians Georghie Hagi made the mountain even more insurmountable by converting a fifth minute penalty. Eirik Bakke levelled on the night ten minutes later, but just before half time, Hakan Şükür restored the visitors lead. Then a minute later both sides would play the second half with 10 men as Harry Kewell, then of Leeds and Emre Belözoğlu clashed and were both red carded.

Bakke got his and Leeds second on 63 minutes but it wasn't enough. Leeds were out 2-4 on aggregate to the eventual winners.

But it didn't really matter.

Next part 3 the aftermath.

Photo: Action Images

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