Leeds fans furious at Kewell

Harry Kewell, before becoming a Liverpool player, was a mini-legend at Leeds. As an incisive winger or silky striker, he dazzled weekly for the club. Leeds fans, however, have now turned their back on a former hero.

8 years ago, 2 Leeds fans, Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus, were murdered by Galatasary hooligans prior to their UEFA Cup clash. Kewell was part of that squad, and many don’t understand how he could now sign for the Turkish club.

Ray Fell, chairman of Leeds United Supporters Club, said: “I know that many of our fans will be totally appalled by what Kewell has done. They will see this as callous, uncaring and a real kick in the teeth to them, the two lads who so tragically lost their lives and the club itself. Personally, I am shocked.

“I am extremely disappointed that any member of that Leeds squad - who along with team-mates, the families of Kevin and Christopher and everyone else connected with the club who endured the trauma and sadness of that occasion - could sign for Galatasaray.

“For us now to have to see one of our ex-players from that sad time taking the applause from Galatasaray fans will be sickening.”

Kewell has paid little attention to the controversy. At his presentation he said, “It is a sad part of football history but what happened in the past is in the past. It’s not right to dwell on the past, we have got to look forward.

“We all love the game so much and I am here because I respect the game and I want to play the game.”

“I’m excited and I’m thrilled to bits. I am looking forward to the new challenge. I can’t wait to meet up with the team and to get going. It’s something different.

“There is a lot of excited talk about the Turkish League. It’s coming up in the world and the national team has done really well in the last couple of major tournaments.

“There is a lot of young talent here and it’s something different. That’s what I’m looking forward to … a fresh challenge.”

Regardless of the Australian’s optimism, Fell made it all very clear with this sentence: “Kewell will never be welcome back in Leeds.”

Source: http://www.leedsunited-mad.co.uk