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Why wait? Decision on Galatasaray fans should have been easy
Posted: Tuesday April 11, 2000 12:15 PM
Two major things puzzle me in the aftermath of the tragic events in Istanbul last week, where two Leeds United supporters were stabbed to death in clashes with local youths. Why on earth would UEFA, European football's governing body, make any hesitation at all in deciding no Galatasaray followers should be allowed to travel for the second leg on April 20? And why would Leeds fans, as much as they adore their team, risk entering Galatasaray supporters' self-proclaimed "hell"?
Let me state very clearly for the record that I don't for one minute want to suggest Galatasaray fans were responsible in any way for those deaths. The fighting occurred in downtown Istanbul. Four men were on Monday charged with murder. Nothing suggested at that time that they followed Turkey's most successful club. But this much is true. Galatasaray's stadium is at fever pitch for matches. Fans even gather at the airport in Istanbul to greet the players with intimidating banners, such as "Welcome to Hell." If that's how footballers of rival teams are treated, what kind of respect can rival supporters expect? It sets an immediately provocative tone. It creates an atmosphere of intimidation and fear. However innocent Galatasaray supporters claim this is, it isn't your average fan behavior. Istanbul is a fabulous, historic city. It's a marvellous place to visit ... simply not when a certain section of the population is concocting its little piece of hell. By not traveling to support one's team, some of you may claim the Galatasaray gang wins every time. But victories are earned on the pitch, not the terraces. Chelsea's small contingent of fans hardly made the difference in the 5-0 win they enjoyed on the road against Galatasaray this season. And the smattering of Leeds fans there last Thursday didn't encourage their team enough to avoid a 2-0 defeat.
Fans keeping out of hell doesn't mean a visiting team can't taste football heaven. As for the return leg in Leeds, it is sure to be a night filled with intense emotions, ranging from hate and revenge to harrowing sadness. UEFA should've acted immediately to prevent Turkish fans making the trip to Yorkshire. Why wait? The powers-that-be knew instantly just how volatile a situation this would be. If the Leeds chairman himself is calling for Turkish fans to be kept away from Elland Road, saying he can't guarantee their safety, why was there any lengthy discussion on the matter? How ludicrous to think for even a second that Galatasaray fans -- however innocent in last Wednesday's attacks -- should be allowed to make such a trip. And yet by the time a ruling is made, almost a full week will have passed since those terrible events in Istanbul. Too long. Far too long. I said at the outset that two major things puzzled me. But actually make that three. Why does the magnificent sport of football so often have to go hand-in-glove with death, violence and destruction? Now that's the greatest unanswerable puzzle of all. Phil Jones is a co-host of "World Sport," the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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