davieG Posted 7 February 2006 Share Posted 7 February 2006 From the BBC Turkey get six-game Fifa sanction Fifa's decision may affect Turkey's Euro 2008 hopes Turkey have been ordered by world soccer's governing body Fifa to play their next six home matches at a neutral ground and behind closed doors. The punishment comes following a fracas after their World Cup play-off against Switzerland in Istanbul, last November. Switzerland's Benjamin Huggel and Turkey's Alpay Ozalan and Emre Belozoglu have been banned for six games for their part in the incident. Turkey were also fined 200,000 Swiss francs (£88,000). Players and officials from both sides were involved in a scuffle in the tunnel after the final whistle of the ill-tempered first leg of the play-off for Germany 2006. Swiss substitute defender Stephane Grichting needed hospital treatment after receiving a kick in the groin. Meanwhile, Turkey's Serkan Balci also gets a two-match suspension and, Mehmet Ozdilek, who left his role as the national side's assistant coach after the incident, has been banned from taking part in any football-related activity, within associations, confederations or Fifa for 12 months. Switzerland's physio, Stephan Meyer, has been handed a two-game suspension. "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. The Turkish FA and those players given six-match bans can appeal against the punishments and go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. Turkey won the first match on 16 November, 4-2, but were beaten to a berth at the World Cup, after losing the second leg 2-0 in Bern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted 7 February 2006 Share Posted 7 February 2006 about bloody time . all the trouble the turks cause yet istanbul was given the champions league final last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head Honcho Posted 7 February 2006 Share Posted 7 February 2006 It's a start but £88k fine! What's all that about? Now they can concentrate on knocking some points of the Spanish, if the racist chanting at some of their matches doesn't stop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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