Turk confesses to killing

Turk confesses to killing

London, April 8: English soccer club Leeds United has decided to ban fans of the Turkish club Galatasaray from attending a match between the two teams in Leeds because of fears of violence, the BBC said.

Meanwhile, a Turkish man has confessed in Istanbul to stabbing one of the two English fans, police have said. A police investigator on Friday said Ali Umit Demir confessed during interrogation that he stabbed a Leeds fan. Demir was arrested at his home on Thursday following a tip and seized a knife used in the stabbing.

``I stabbed him,'' newspapers quoted Demir as saying before being brought into the police station.

Earlier, Galatasaray said there was no point playing another match against Leeds United on April 20 if Turkish fans were to be banned on security grounds. It suggested playing the game at a neutral venue.

On Thursday night, Galatasaray won 2-0 in a tense but peaceful match during which Leeds fans chanted ``murderers'' and ``scum'' at the Turkish supporters.

Turkish police said 16 people have been arrested over the deaths and they were searching for more suspects. A police spokesman said there would be more arrests in the coming days. One of the accused was widely quoted in the Turkish media as having said he stabbed a Leeds fan. Turkish police have also accused British fans of being drunkand provocative prior to the stabbings.