FIFA is considering banning Turkey from the 2010 World Cup after they attacked the Swiss team during their final WC playoff match.

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"Swiss midfielder Huggel expects ban after Turkey violence BERLIN, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Swiss midfielder Benjamin Huggel expects to be suspended for lashing out at Turkey's assistant coach after Switzerland's World Cup playoff victory. "I am counting on a ban because of my kick," he told Germany's Bild newspaper on Friday as players from both sides recounted more of what happened in Wednesday's night of mayhem in Istanbul. The post-match violence on the pitch left one Swiss player in hospital and outraged world body FIFA, whose president Sepp Blatter has promised tough action after scenes that he said had trampled fair play underfoot. Huggel, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany's Bundesliga, said he had been gripped by fear and panic and insisted his attack on Mehmet Ozdilek was retaliatory. "I'm only happy that I came out of there alive," he said. Bild showed a picture of Ozdilek with his foot outstretched as Swiss players passed him after the final whistle. Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta said three Turkish officials had tried to kick him in the leg while goalkeepers' coach Erich Burgener said he had been attacked by stewards in the stadium tunnel. "It was unbelievable," Burgener told French sports daily L'Equipe. "I was punched in the face and was hit on the hip (where he has a replacement). I was beaten up by stewards. When I saw four or five guys come and beat me while they were supposed to protect me, I got really scared," he added. Swiss midfielder Johann Lonfat was quoted by L'Equipe on Thursday as saying that Turkish police intervened soon after the players had left the pitch and joined some Turkish players in beating some of their opponents. Television footage showed Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan kicking Swiss forward Marco Streller, who plays for Stuttgart, as the players entered the tunnel. Huggel then grabbed Alpay, of German side Cologne, round the neck. Switzerland defender Stephane Grichting needed hospital treatment after being kicked in the stomach in the free-for-all. The Auxerre player needed a catheter inserted and will be out for up to 10 days. "It was hell. I have never experienced something as brutal as that before," said Swiss defender Philipp Degen of Borussia Dortmund. "Even the next day he had blood in his urine and terrible pains. It was awful how they attacked him." Turkey's Hamit Altintop, a Kaiserslautern player who also featured in the match, told Bild it was painful to know the world was talking about the incident. "You need to know we have a very different mentality. We are more emotional when we lose. We cannot lose," he was quoted by the paper as saying. Turkey, surprise semi-finalists at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, won Wednesday's match 4-2 but went out on the away goals rule with the aggregate score 4-4. The visiting team left the pitch under a hail of objects thrown by the crowd with players from both sides clashing as they ran. AC Milan midfielder Johann Vogel was cynical about the causes of the brawl. "We don't have to think too far. It was planned," said the player, who returns to Istanbul on Wednesday when Milan take on Fenerbahce in the Champions League."

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"FIFA chief considers 2010 World Cup ban for Turkey By ERNST E. ABEGG, Associated Press Writer November 17, 2005 ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- FIFA is considering possible sanctions against Turkey for fighting after a playoff match against Switzerland, including banishment from the 2010 World Cup. A disciplinary committee of soccer's governing body will decide on sanctions by Dec. 9, the date of the draw for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday. "The catalog of sanctions extends from a simple warning to suspension of the federation, which could mean exclusion from the next international event," Blatter said. The teams tied 4-4 on aggregate Wednesday in Istanbul, but the Swiss advanced to next year's World Cup in Germany on away goals. After the final whistle, a scuffle broke out between players in the tunnel on the way to the locker room. Swiss defender Stephane Grichting was hurt in the brawl and hospitalized with a groin injury. "This is unworthy of football," Blatter said. "Football should promote understanding among peoples. This didn't happen here." Turkish soccer officials accused Blatter, who is Swiss, of being biased. "If we're going to be penalized, we'll work to be sure that Switzerland gets the same penalty," Turkish federation president Levent Bicakci said. Blatter said FIFA would await the report from the match officials in Istanbul. The Swiss said they were subjected to hostile treatment, including being held up for several hours in passport control when they arrived in Istanbul on Monday. Fans taunted the players and reportedly threw eggs and rocks at the team bus as it left the airport. "What disturbs me the most is the lack of respect shown the official Swiss delegation from their arrival until their departure," he said."

11/18/2005 3:46:51 PM

this would be a great thread if anyone cared about at least two of the following

1. Turkey
2. The World Cup
3. Soccer

11/18/2005 3:52:30 PM

I like Atsur so i guess i care about Turkey, but as for soccer and the world cup









uhhhh NO

11/18/2005 3:55:20 PM

I mostly posted this because I'm glad they won't be there to make monkey noises. That leaves just the Italians.

11/18/2005 3:59:54 PM

I cant beleive I read all of that, and there are no pictures at the bottom =(

11/18/2005 5:50:15 PM

[quote]So, when I heard that there had been violence after the Turkey-Switzerland qualifier, I immediately assumed (unfairly, perhaps, but also understandably, based on their history) that it involved the Turkish fans. But I just saw the clip - turns out that Benjamin Huggel (that’s him up there - now if you run into him you’ll know who he is and can whack him one) passed a Turkish coach on his way into the tunnel, kicked him, and kept running. Not only is that pathetically unprofessional, but it’s cowardly at well. What the hell is going through his head? “We lost the match, so I’ll kick the bastard! But I don’t want him to hurt me, so I’ll do it as I sprint by. I am such a beast! Not to mention a credit to my team!” Christ.

taken from http://www.thefootie.com/violence-at-close-of-turkey-switzerland-match/

11/18/2005 7:02:36 PM

Dracula had it right....Turks belong on long stakes

11/18/2005 9:56:38 PM

Blatter has amended his threat, and now is suggesting possible suspension for both Turkey and Switzerland.

11/19/2005 12:32:39 AM

^ That sure as hell isn't happening. Blatter's Swiss.

11/19/2005 10:09:52 AM