News: Tensions between England and Turkey are likely to be further heightened after it emerged that the inquest into the murder of two Leeds United supporters in Istanbul three years ago will take place just before the countries meet in their final Euro 2004 qualifying match on October 11th.
UEFA yesterday confirmed they are to investigate the volatile scenes during England's victory over Turkey in Sunderland - incidents which will also prompt the English Football Association to raise concerns about the venue for October's return match.
UEFA will study evidence around two pitch invasions, 12 arrests inside the Stadium of Light and scuffles involving Turkish players, with a decision expected on May 1st.
The deaths of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight ignited the current hostility between English and Turkish supporters and has led to fears of further trouble when the teams meet in what will probably be the group's decisive fixture.
Loftus, stabbed 17 times and Speight, four, met their fate during a street fight between Leeds and Galatasaray fans before a UEFA Cup semi-final. The inquest, scheduled for Leeds in September, is bound to attract attention in the media and the FA will be aware that it could stoke up more bad feelings. One leading Turkish FA official has already called for England to be punished by being forced to play their next match in a neutral venue but UEFA have played down such a possibility. Instead, a heavy fine is more likely.
It was a day that saw one of the largest and most visible police operations ever staged at a British football match played out on the streets of Sunderland and across the north-east. Around 1,000 officers from the Northumbria force were on duty for a match that carried a uniquely high risk given the history of bad blood and barely concealed enmity that exists between many followers of England and Turkey.
Yesterday, as magistrates' courts began hearing the charges against 110 people held during disturbances before and after the game, the force was hailing the operation, which also involved officers from the National Criminal Intelligence Service and other regional forces, as a success.
Despite an embarrassing and potentially costly breakdown of security inside the stadium - twice supporters invaded the pitch - action taken outside the ground appeared to successfully isolate and contain a hard core of thugs.
The chief targets for the intelligence-led operation were the hooligan firms that had focused on the match, chief among them the Leeds Service Crew, apparently intent on avenging the fatal stabbings. Figures released yesterday appeared to confirm the involvement of Leeds supporters. Of 100 people arrested 50 were from Yorkshire, 29 of them from Leeds. A further 15 were from the Sunderland area, thought to be members of the Seaburn Casuals and the Newcastle Gremlins firms.
What should be of concern to the authorities was the virulent racism displayed by a large element among the 48,000-strong crowd. The British Home Office said yesterday it would pursue all those guilty of racist abuse and prevent them attending England games. Not a single fan was ejected from the stadium and not one arrest was for racist abuse.
Guardian Service
