Tweet
A shame for Turkey
FIFA chief considers 2010 World Cup ban for Turkey
By ERNST E. ABEGG, Associated Press Writer
November 17, 2005
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Turkey could be banned by FIFA from the 2010 World Cup for its part in a fight after a playoff match against Switzerland in Istanbul.
"We will act tough," Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer's governing body, said Thursday. "The catalogue of sanctions extends from a simple warning to suspension of the federation, which could mean exclusion from the next international event."
The teams tied 4-4 on aggregate Wednesday, but the Swiss advanced to next year's World Cup in Germany on away goals.
After the final whistle, the teams raced from the field and there was scuffle between players in the tunnel on the way to the locker room.
Blatter said FIFA's disciplinary committee will decide on sanctions by Dec. 9, the date of the draw for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
"In the truest sense of the word, fair play was xxxxxled underfoot," Blatter said at a news conference. "This is unworthy of football. Football should promote understanding among peoples. This didn't happen here."
Blatter, who is Swiss, later indicated that lesser sanctions might be possible against the Swiss if the committee finds there was misbehavior in an earlier match in Switzerland.
Swiss defender Stephane Grichting was hurt in the brawl Wednesday and hospitalized with a groin injury, the Swiss Football Association said.
Some of the violence was caught by television cameras.
Swiss player Benjamin Huggel is seen Turkish trainer Mehmet Ozdilek in the back of the legs as the two teams left the field. Turkey's Alpay Ozalan tried to kick Huggel in retaliation but instead made contact with another Swiss player in front of him. Huggel then grabbed Alpay around the neck and fell to the ground, with other players, coaches and security guards piling on. Huggel then grabbed Alpay around the neck and fell to the ground, with other players, coaches and security guards piling on.
"It was unbelievable," said Swiss midfielder Raphael Wicky on the Web site of his German club, Hamburger SV. "Turkish players and security guards started hitting us. I was hit on the head and the back."
But he said Hamit and Halil Altintop, Turkish brothers who also play in Germany, came to his rescue and protected him from their teammates until he got to the dressing room.
Blatter said FIFA would consider a range of severe sanctions against Turkey.
"Anything can happen -- from nothing at all to the suspension of the Turkish federation or even a ban on participation in the next World Cup," he told a Swiss radio interviewer earlier.
Turkish soccer officials accused Blatter of being biased.
"Blatter's comments were extremely unfortunate," federation vice president Sekip Mosturoglu said. "This was not a one-sided event."
Blatter said FIFA would await the report from the match officials in Istanbul.
"What disturbs me the most is the lack of respect shown the official Swiss delegation from their arrival until their departure," he said.
The Swiss said they were subjected to hostile treatment, including being held up for several hours in passport control when they arrived in Istanbul on Monday. Fans taunted the players and reportedly threw eggs and rocks at the team bus as it left the airport.
Blatter criticized the FIFA representatives for not being at the airport for the Swiss team's arrival.
"This is incomprehensible," he said. "At least they could have given psychological support."
Tensions had been mounting since the first match on Saturday in Bern, which the Swiss won 2-0. The Turkish team complained of poor treatment. Turkey coach Fatih Terim said Swiss striker Alex Frei cursed at him and made an obscene hand gesture after the first match. Frei denied it.
FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren noted that there had been previous problems with Turkish fans during the qualifying rounds. FIFA imposed a $7,500 fine on the Turks after a match against Ukraine, a $15,000 fine and a warning after the Greece match, and a warning following the Danish match.
By ERNST E. ABEGG, Associated Press Writer
November 17, 2005
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Turkey could be banned by FIFA from the 2010 World Cup for its part in a fight after a playoff match against Switzerland in Istanbul.
"We will act tough," Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer's governing body, said Thursday. "The catalogue of sanctions extends from a simple warning to suspension of the federation, which could mean exclusion from the next international event."
The teams tied 4-4 on aggregate Wednesday, but the Swiss advanced to next year's World Cup in Germany on away goals.
After the final whistle, the teams raced from the field and there was scuffle between players in the tunnel on the way to the locker room.
Blatter said FIFA's disciplinary committee will decide on sanctions by Dec. 9, the date of the draw for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
"In the truest sense of the word, fair play was xxxxxled underfoot," Blatter said at a news conference. "This is unworthy of football. Football should promote understanding among peoples. This didn't happen here."
Blatter, who is Swiss, later indicated that lesser sanctions might be possible against the Swiss if the committee finds there was misbehavior in an earlier match in Switzerland.
Swiss defender Stephane Grichting was hurt in the brawl Wednesday and hospitalized with a groin injury, the Swiss Football Association said.
Some of the violence was caught by television cameras.
Swiss player Benjamin Huggel is seen Turkish trainer Mehmet Ozdilek in the back of the legs as the two teams left the field. Turkey's Alpay Ozalan tried to kick Huggel in retaliation but instead made contact with another Swiss player in front of him. Huggel then grabbed Alpay around the neck and fell to the ground, with other players, coaches and security guards piling on. Huggel then grabbed Alpay around the neck and fell to the ground, with other players, coaches and security guards piling on.
"It was unbelievable," said Swiss midfielder Raphael Wicky on the Web site of his German club, Hamburger SV. "Turkish players and security guards started hitting us. I was hit on the head and the back."
But he said Hamit and Halil Altintop, Turkish brothers who also play in Germany, came to his rescue and protected him from their teammates until he got to the dressing room.
Blatter said FIFA would consider a range of severe sanctions against Turkey.
"Anything can happen -- from nothing at all to the suspension of the Turkish federation or even a ban on participation in the next World Cup," he told a Swiss radio interviewer earlier.
Turkish soccer officials accused Blatter of being biased.
"Blatter's comments were extremely unfortunate," federation vice president Sekip Mosturoglu said. "This was not a one-sided event."
Blatter said FIFA would await the report from the match officials in Istanbul.
"What disturbs me the most is the lack of respect shown the official Swiss delegation from their arrival until their departure," he said.
The Swiss said they were subjected to hostile treatment, including being held up for several hours in passport control when they arrived in Istanbul on Monday. Fans taunted the players and reportedly threw eggs and rocks at the team bus as it left the airport.
Blatter criticized the FIFA representatives for not being at the airport for the Swiss team's arrival.
"This is incomprehensible," he said. "At least they could have given psychological support."
Tensions had been mounting since the first match on Saturday in Bern, which the Swiss won 2-0. The Turkish team complained of poor treatment. Turkey coach Fatih Terim said Swiss striker Alex Frei cursed at him and made an obscene hand gesture after the first match. Frei denied it.
FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren noted that there had been previous problems with Turkish fans during the qualifying rounds. FIFA imposed a $7,500 fine on the Turks after a match against Ukraine, a $15,000 fine and a warning after the Greece match, and a warning following the Danish match.
Comment