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UEFA reprimands Turkey

December 06, 2003 08:46 IST

UEFA fined the Turkish Football Association a total of 80,000 Swiss francs ($62,020) on Friday and banned three of their players after a series of violent incidents at two international matches last month.

UEFA's disciplinary committee fined the Turkish FA 50,000 Swiss francs relating to disorder at the under-21 playoff game against Germany in Istanbul on November 18.

UEFA said numerous missiles were thrown on to the pitch, hitting the referee and two match officials. In the player's tunnel, one of the linesmen was kicked.

Turkish security staff also physically attacked German players, UEFA said.

Turkish player Beyhan Sumer got a five-match ban for being sent off and for attacking the German goalkeeper at the end of the game, which finished 1-1 after Germany scored a stoppage time equaliser to clinch a 2-1 aggregate win.

Team mate Aslan Kemal was banned for four matches for punching two German players in the face after the final whistle.

UEFA also banned Turkey player Asik Emre for four matches after he was sent off for elbowing an opponent in the senior team's Euro 2004 playoff first leg match against Latvia in Riga on November 15.

All the bans will apply to Turkey's qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup starting next autumn. Turkey, World Cup semi-finalists last year, have no competitive senior matches before then as they failed to qualify for Euro 2004, losing the Latvia playoff 3-2 on aggregate.

The Turkish FA received a further 30,000 Swiss francs ban for "the improper and aggressive behaviour its players and officials towards the referee" at the end of the Germany under-21 match and for "delaying the kickoff" of the Latvia game.

The Turkish under-21 team will also have to play its first two home matches of the next European under-21 championship qualifying campaign behind closed doors.

In another ruling on Friday, Turkish club Galatasaray was fined 50,000 Swiss francs after their fans lit and threw fireworks at the Champions League game against Greek side Olympiakos in Istanbul on October 21.

Source: REUTERS
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