Sneijder sorry for promoting knives

Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder has apologised to Leeds' fans after promoting a club-branded knife set that he is endorsing.

Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder has caused controversy with Leeds fans. (Bongarts) Source: Bongarts

Leeds will mark 15 years since the deaths of supporters Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were stabbed by a Turkish man ahead of their side's UEFA Cup clash with Galatasaray in April 2000.

A minute's silence will precede Leeds's Championship fixture with Blackburn, but United fans were enraged on when Netherlands international Sneijder tweeted a picture of a Gala-branded knife set which carried his image, saying the item was now "finally" available for sale.

His Tweet was met with an angry response from Leeds fans and was soon deleted, and Sneijder wrote to one supporter apologising.

Ali Umit Demur was jailed for 15 years for the deaths of Loftus and Speight, while four other men were jailed for their part in the attack.