'Black night' for football

Turkish police move in to arrest a Leeds fan

The Leeds United chairman has described the violence in Istanbul that killed two of his club's supporters as a "black night" for football.

Another Leeds fan is still fighting for his life following the clashes, which came ahead of Thursday's Uefa Cup clash between the Premiership side and Galatasaray.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale, who saw the body of one of the dead men, Christopher Loftus, at the city's Taksim Hospital, said: "Tonight is going down as one of those black nights in history."

English and Turkish fans square up in Istanbul

He added: "It is obviously a horrendous situation and something I have never been through before."

Chief Superintendent Steve Matthews, of West Yorkshire Police, who travelled to Istanbul with the Leeds fans, said: "We had taken precautions against violence but we never expected anything like this.

"Whether the game goes ahead is a matter for the two clubs and Uefa.

"Some people would argue that it shouldn't take place because of what has happened, but others would argue it should for the safety of the Leeds fans currently in Turkey."

'Lack of police'

Paul Thomas, international co-ordinator of the Football Supporters' Association and a Leeds United season ticket holder, said he had advised friends against going to Turkey because of the Galatasaray fans' reputation.

He said: "The fans have a bad reputation as well so I warned my mates not to go. But the worst thing is that there is never any police protection for the fans there.

"Even if the Leeds lot were being a problem it is their job to get in between the two sets of fans to stop anything happening.

"The lack of police help is a big problem for English teams playing abroad but it is particularly bad in Turkey."

Mr Thomas said it was the first time in 25 years that Leeds fans had been involved in violence abroad and added: "It is time we started looking not just at the faults of British fans but also at their rights."