Brother of Galatasaray victim Christopher Loftus charged over Leeds soccer hooliganism

Andrew Loftus, 42, is one of 11 men due to appear before Leeds magistrates tomorrow in connection with what police called “an appalling explosion of violence” between rival supporters in Leeds city centre.

The hearing comes less than three weeks after the 13th anniversary of the death of Mr Loftus’s brother, Christopher.

He was 35 when he and fellow Leeds fan Kevin Speight, 40, were fatally stabbed on the eve of United’s Uefa Cup semi-final tie against Galatasaray on April 5, 2000.

All 11 men due in court tomorrow – six from Leeds, three from South Yorkshire, one from Bradford and one from Harrogate – are charged with affray following an incident on Boar Lane on the evening of January 27.

Police said about 40 Leeds and Tottenham Hotspur supporters were involved in what appeared to be organised brawl outside Yates’s Wine Lodge.

Bottles were allegedly hurled at police as they tried to break up the incident, which followed United’s 2-1 victory over Spurs in the FA Cup fourth round.

After the incident Chief Supt Paul Money, commander of the City and Holbeck division, said: “This was an appalling explosion of violence in the heart of the city centre at teatime on a Sunday.”

Affray carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

If found guilty Mr Loftus, from Kippax, could also face a lengthy ban from football grounds.

The long campaign to win justice for Christopher Loftus and Mr Speight finally came to an end in 2010 when Istanbul’s Supreme Court upheld combined sentences of 28 years handed to four men for the killings in 2010.

Andrew Loftus, who played a part in the fight for justice, has helped to raise £140,000 for charity in his brother’s memory. He is planning to run this year’s Leeds Half Marathon for good causes.