Time for Turkey to be banned?

[crowie]

From BBC

Fifa begins Turkey violence probe

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says it will hold an investigation into the violence at the end of the World Cup tie between Turkey and Switzerland.

The Swiss qualified on the away goals rule but the end of the game was marred as players clashed in the tunnel.

Blatter says the inquiry will be finished by 9 December, when the draw for the finals takes place in Leipzig.

He warned: "I can tell you this, not as a Swiss, but as president of Fifa, that we will act and we will act tough."

Blatter added: "This was anti-fair play. The Turks had the chance to act as a good host and show that a revenge foul is not done in football.

"The catalogue of sanctions extends from a simple warning to suspension of the federation, which could mean exclusion from the next international event.

"The inquiry will show whether we will investigate against Switzerland too."

The Swiss players left the pitch under a hail of objects thrown by the Turkish crowd and defender Stephane Grichting was taken to hospital.

"Grichting has rejoined the team," said Swiss team spokesman Pierre Benoit. "He has had to have a catheter put in and he will need seven to 10 days to recover."

Midfielder Johann Lonfat added: "Grichting received some blows. He was covered in blood. He went to hospital, shocked.

"We were attacked. It was unbelievable. And I'm not talking about the pressure we sustained during the stay.

"We expected an electric atmosphere, an overheated atmosphere, but not that. This went beyond the limits of intimidation. I was told: 'We're going to slit your throat.'"

Coach Kobi Kuhn was stunned by the events in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul and said: "This is absolutely scandalous.

"The Turkish police didn't think for a second about beating up people from Turkish television to stop them filming and that says it all about the atmosphere surrounding the end of the match."

The Swiss team left Istanbul from Ataturk Airport on Thursday under heavy police protection.

They reached the World Cup finals despite a 4-2 defeat on the night, winning on aggregate 4-4 on the away goals rule.

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.

Alpay clashed with England captain David Beckham in October 2003 after a controversial Euro 2004 qualifier in Istanbul.

Not the first time (England in Euro 2004, Latvia I am sure in the Euro 2004 play offs, Man Utd at Fenerbache) and probably not the last time.

[ONEDUNME]

Phew, for a moment there I thought my Christmas dinner was in jeperdy

[all_funkt_up]

Scumbags. Dont know the concept of fair play and take things too far. Absolute bloody maniacs like this should be banned from European football. And thats not a generalisation!

[MickeyPaul]

Maybe we should give them another chance. Everyone deserves a 328th chance surely?

[GETT1NLOTS]

Turkey (as a football team and set of fans) are a bunch of cunts. I would love to see them banned - especially that piece of shit Alpay.

That said I thought it was that Swiss player kicking the Turkish coach that started the fight between the players?

[ONEDUNME]

Yeah ban the Swiss.

Bastards. Don't you just hate the way they stay out of everything just to wind EVERYONE up. I fucking hate them. They're like the goody goody swotty fat kid at school who never did anything wrong and grassed everyone up to teacher.

Bastards. Let's invade them.

Where's Rene when you need him

[Bigkegman]

They make nice chocolate though !!

oh and knives ?

[ONEDUNME]

That's true - they have knives

Perhaps we need more men.

[Swooperman]

Kicking somebody ehh that must be the most aggressive theyve ever done

[FC Basher]

Stuff Turkey thats what I say,as for the Swiss,sought your flag out,makes me think about first aid

[Tricky]

Ban them both then have a play off between Eire & Greece for who then gets Swiss' world cup spot.

[ONEDUNME]

Or have a play-off between Turkey and Greece and hold it in Cyprus.

That should calm things down a bit.

[farnerud]

First, I see you don't like us much, also some people are prejudiced but no problem. I don't blame anyone because I think you don't have good memories about Turkey.

First I want to tell something about Turkey - Switzerland clash. I was at stadium and saw everything clearly. I never back silly Alpay and some players. It was shameful. But don't forget this is a two-sided event. Swiss players did everything to provacate our players on the pitch.

So we are always known with our hospitality. We saw many matches that we lost at Turkey. For example we lost dramatically to Latvia two years ago and nothing happened. Crowd applauded Latvian players due to their victory.

Our biggest fault is to be emotional, and we care football so much. I never back stupid behaviours but everyone may have mistakes. And please I beg you to stop insultng comments about us. If you come to Turkey you will see Turks are not as you think.

[PTDSEI]

Originally Posted by farnerud

First, I see you don't like us much, also some people are prejudiced but no problem. I don't blame anyone because I think you don't have good memories about Turkey.

First I want to tell something about Turkey - Switzerland clash. I was at stadium and saw everything clearly. I never back silly Alpay and some players. It was shameful. But don't forget this is a two-sided event. Swiss players did everything to provacate our players on the pitch.

So we are always known with our hospitality. We saw many matches that we lost at Turkey. For example we lost dramatically to Latvia two years ago and nothing happened. Crowd applauded Latvian players due to their victory.

Our biggest fault is to be emotional, and we care football so much. I never back stupid behaviours but everyone may have mistakes. And please I beg you to stop insultng comments about us. If you come to Turkey you will see Turks are not as you think.

Aww. The lovely turks applauded the lovely latvians.

[GETT1NLOTS]

Sorry Farnerud but the antics of the Istanbul crowd cannot be excused with their 'welcome to hell' banners and the such like. The Turkey players (especially Alpay) have been trying it on for years and the crowds behaviour is simply disgraceful. That said a proportion of England fans act like complete twats as well so I understand what you're saying about not imagining that you're all the same.

For the record Farnerud I have been to Turkey and I agree that in every day situations you're a nice people. It's just when it comes to football that most of the World dislikes you (including me).