UPDATE 1-Turkey must play next six games at neutral venue
Tue Feb 7, 2006 6:07 PM GMT
LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Turkey have been ordered to play their next six home matches at a neutral ground and behind closed doors following a fracas at their World Cup qualifier against Switzerland in Istanbul.
FIFA said in a statement on Tuesday that two Turkish players, Alpay Ozalan and Emre Belozoglu, would be banned for six matches as would Switzerland's Benjamin Huggel who admitted kicking Turkish assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek.
The sanctions, which apply to official matches and not friendlies, are among the most severe handed out to a national association and will hit Turkey's chances of qualifying for the next European championship in 2008.
Huggel will be suspended for all of Switzerland's World Cup matches in Germany, unless they reach the final, and is also likely to miss games at Euro 2008.
Switzerland won the two-legged playoff to qualify for this year's World Cup starting in June at the expense of Turkey, semi-finalists in 2002.
Ozdilek has been ordered to stay away from soccer for 12 months for his part in the incidents last November. He resigned after television pictures showed him attempting to trip a Swiss player as they left the pitch.
Television pictures showed defender Alpay kicking Swiss forward Marco Streller in the players' tunnel after the game.
Turkey were also fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($154,200). A number of other players and coaches from both teams also received fines and suspensions.
"I describe this decision as unacceptable. This is a political decision rather than a sports decision," Turkey's sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin told NTV news channel.
FIFA held a meeting on Monday and Tuesday at their Zurich headquarters to decide the punishments. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, a Swiss, said at the time he was hopping mad at the damage to soccer's image caused by the fracas.
Turkey won the game in Istanbul, played on Nov. 16, 4-2 but went out of the World Cup on the away goals rule after losing the first leg 2-0 in Bern four days earlier.
Mayhem followed the final whistle as players and officials from both sides were involved in a mass brawl in the players' tunnel.
Swiss substitute defender Stephane Grichting came off worst after receiving a kick in the groin that required hospital treatment.
Tue Feb 7, 2006 6:07 PM GMT
LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Turkey have been ordered to play their next six home matches at a neutral ground and behind closed doors following a fracas at their World Cup qualifier against Switzerland in Istanbul.
FIFA said in a statement on Tuesday that two Turkish players, Alpay Ozalan and Emre Belozoglu, would be banned for six matches as would Switzerland's Benjamin Huggel who admitted kicking Turkish assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek.
The sanctions, which apply to official matches and not friendlies, are among the most severe handed out to a national association and will hit Turkey's chances of qualifying for the next European championship in 2008.
Huggel will be suspended for all of Switzerland's World Cup matches in Germany, unless they reach the final, and is also likely to miss games at Euro 2008.
Switzerland won the two-legged playoff to qualify for this year's World Cup starting in June at the expense of Turkey, semi-finalists in 2002.
Ozdilek has been ordered to stay away from soccer for 12 months for his part in the incidents last November. He resigned after television pictures showed him attempting to trip a Swiss player as they left the pitch.
Television pictures showed defender Alpay kicking Swiss forward Marco Streller in the players' tunnel after the game.
Turkey were also fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($154,200). A number of other players and coaches from both teams also received fines and suspensions.
"I describe this decision as unacceptable. This is a political decision rather than a sports decision," Turkey's sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin told NTV news channel.
FIFA held a meeting on Monday and Tuesday at their Zurich headquarters to decide the punishments. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, a Swiss, said at the time he was hopping mad at the damage to soccer's image caused by the fracas.
Turkey won the game in Istanbul, played on Nov. 16, 4-2 but went out of the World Cup on the away goals rule after losing the first leg 2-0 in Bern four days earlier.
Mayhem followed the final whistle as players and officials from both sides were involved in a mass brawl in the players' tunnel.
Swiss substitute defender Stephane Grichting came off worst after receiving a kick in the groin that required hospital treatment.
Comment