Turkey face World Cup ban

GENEVA – Fifa president Sepp Blatter has threatened to ban Turkey from the 2010 World Cup following violence at Wednesday’s 2006 World Cup qualifier with Switzerland.

Blatter told Swiss radio he was livid and threatened sanctions. “Something is going wrong in football.I’ve never seen anything like it,” he added.The Swiss Football Association’s complaint to Fifa will be heard before the 2006 World Cup draw on December 9.Switzerland lost a dramatic second leg 4-2 in Istanbul but advanced to 2006’s finals thanks to the away-goals rule.The players clashed in the tunnel and reports said Swiss defender Stephane Grichting was taken to hospital.Swiss boss Kobi Kuhn was also hit by coins and press officer Pierre Benoit said the incidents would be reported.Tuncay Sanli scored a hat-trick for the Turks, who finished third in the 2002 World Cup, but Marco Streller’s 84th-minute goal put the Swiss through.However, the match ended with tempers fraying and television footage showed Benjamin Huggel kick a member of the Turkish coaching staff as he ran off the pitch.Then, former Aston Villa defender Alpay aimed a kick at Streller as the goalscorer went down the tunnel towards the dressing rooms and the trouble erupted.According to reports, Grichting was taken to Istanbul’s Acidem Hospital after being kicked in the groin.However, Turkey striker Halil Altintop, who plays for Kaiserslautern, played down the clashes.”A few of our players overreacted after the match but I am happy there were no serious incidents,” he said.-Nampa-AFP”Something is going wrong in football.I’ve never seen anything like it,” he added.The Swiss Football Association’s complaint to Fifa will be heard before the 2006 World Cup draw on December 9.Switzerland lost a dramatic second leg 4-2 in Istanbul but advanced to 2006’s finals thanks to the away-goals rule.The players clashed in the tunnel and reports said Swiss defender Stephane Grichting was taken to hospital.Swiss boss Kobi Kuhn was also hit by coins and press officer Pierre Benoit said the incidents would be reported.Tuncay Sanli scored a hat-trick for the Turks, who finished third in the 2002 World Cup, but Marco Streller’s 84th-minute goal put the Swiss through.However, the match ended with tempers fraying and television footage showed Benjamin Huggel kick a member of the Turkish coaching staff as he ran off the pitch.Then, former Aston Villa defender Alpay aimed a kick at Streller as the goalscorer went down the tunnel towards the dressing rooms and the trouble erupted.According to reports, Grichting was taken to Istanbul’s Acidem Hospital after being kicked in the groin.However, Turkey striker Halil Altintop, who plays for Kaiserslautern, played down the clashes.”A few of our players overreacted after the match but I am happy there were no serious incidents,” he said.-Nampa-AFP

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