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Craig HillHarry Kewell defends Galatasaray move
July 8th 2008 06:20
Kewell poses with his Galatasaray shirt
Most of the time, moving to a new club for a player is like a new lease of life - the chance to kick-start a stagnating career, for a new challenge etc. and are usually happy times.
Australian star Harry Kewell has joined Turkish giants Galatasaray on a two-year deal from five-times European champions Liverpool but instead of spending all his time talking about his new club and what the future holds for him in Turkey, he has spent a lot of time defending what many people think is a money-grabbing move to Turkey.
But perhaps even more controversial is that the pacy winger has also had to defend his move to Istanbul, stressing it was not disrespectful to the two Leeds fans who were killed in the city eight years ago during a UEFA Cup semi-final match between Galatasaray and former club Leeds United in 2000.
In fact, the outrage in Leeds - where Kewell spent his best years - has forced the player to issue an open letter to Leeds fans insisting he has not been disrespectful.
Kewell's open letter to Leeds' fans:
'My love and respect for Leeds United and what the club has done for me will never change, no matter what anyone says about me and whatever their motives are
'My sense of sorrow and sympathy for the families and friends of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight will always be with me.
'I chose the number 19 shirt when I signed for Galatasaray as a sign of respect for Leeds because that was the number I got when I first became a regular member of the Leeds starting XI.
'I felt that it might be a way to demonstrate that I had not forgotten where it all started and I was hoping that in a small way it would help the healing process of the tragedy that occurred on the April 5 2000.
'For me, sport should first and foremost be about the love of your game. But equally important is the respect for not only your team-mates but all those who you compete against.
'For this reason I have always objected to any form of discrimination in any sport and football in particular, as that is the sport that is the most near and dear to me.
'To blame the Galatasaray club for the tragedy in Istanbul is simply wrong and discriminatory.'
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