Leeds fan's widow calls for calm

Danish police will aim to keep rival fans apart

The wife of a Leeds United fan stabbed to death before last month's game against Galatasaray has called for an end to football violence.

Susan Speight called for calm ahead of Wednesday's final in Copenhagen between Arsenal and the Turkish club. However police in the Danish capital have used tear gas to try to disperse hundreds of rioting fans.

Most of all she wants no more widows as a result of a football match

Susan Speight's solicitor

Her comments were prompted by the stabbing of Arsenal fan Paul Dineen, who is recovering after being attacked on Tuesday night during rival fan's clashes.

Mrs Speight's husband, father-of-two Kevin Speight, 40, of Leeds, and Christopher Loftus, 35, also of Leeds, were killed on the eve of United's semi-final match on 5 April in Istanbul.

Five men have been charged with the two men's murders.

Mrs Speight's solicitor Philip Howell said: "The events have naturally caused her distress and it is almost as if she is back to the day when Kevin and Christopher were murdered.

Susan Speight with husband Kevin and children

"Susan has asked me to pass on her best wishes to the gentleman who was stabbed and she hopes he makes a speedy recovery. She knows what his family must be going through.

"Her earnest wish is that there be no more violence and asks those who are contemplating it to think of her situation and how their wives and children would feel if they were murdered by a hooligan allegedly supporting a football team."

Arsenal fans flying from Stansted Airport to Copenhagen on Wednesday had expressed fears about more violence.

Several predicted there would be trouble, as there was still much bad feeling towards Galatasaray after the stabbings of the Leeds United fans.

I think we are going to be looking over our shoulder

Arsenal fan Senan Corry

Senan Corry, 36, from Chelmsford, Essex, said: "We were worried this morning when the message came through about the stabbing.

"There has been so much hype because of what happened with Leeds that it does make you wary."

His friend Martin Ambrose, 29, a sales representative, also from Chelmsford, added: "There will definitely be trouble. That is the way a few people are. They don't need much of an excuse."