Call for international football protocol as coroner lashes Turkish police over dead fans

A CORONER called yesterday for international football matches to proceed only if police from both countries involved are satisfied adequate precautions have been taken to protect fans.

West Yorkshire coroner David Hinchliff also heavily criticised Turkish police for their handling of violence which erupted when Leeds United travelled to Istanbul, leaving two Leeds supporters dead.

Kevin Speight, aged 40, and Christopher Loftus, aged 35, died from stab wounds received during clashes between fans ahead of a Uefa Cup match against Galatasaray in April 2000.

Returning verdicts of unlawful killing at the inquests into their deaths Mr Hinchliff said: “The police gave the impression they were targeting the Leeds supporters. Many were struck with batons, many were taken to the police station notwithstanding the fact that they were injured and needed hospital treatment.”

He described the police, who repeatedly refused to co-operate with West Yorkshire officers, as “disorganised, uncoordinated, not in control of the situation and ill-prepared”.

He said he was writing to the FA and Uefa to recommend the introduction of an international protocol to protect fans attending football matches.

“The Football Association, in conjunction with Uefa, should introduce as mandatory the European protocol for international police co-operation and measures to prevent and control violence and disturbances for all international and European games so that no international football games take place unless and until the respective foreign police forces of each country are both satisfied that all reasonable precautions and actions have been agreed and taken to protect visiting fans and home fans and any member of the public.”

Summing up the inquest at Leeds Coroner’s Court yesterday, Mr Hinchliff described the attacks as “an organised ambush”.