Turkey Recives Worst Punishment Of Fifa History

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Turkey today felt the full wrath of FIFA after they were given severe punishments for the violent clashes involving players and officials at the end of the World Cup play-off against Switzerland.

Following a disciplinary hearing, FIFA have ordered Turkey to play their next six competitive matches behind closed doors on neutral ground.

The sanctions, which apply to official matches and not friendlies, are among the most severe handed out to a national association and will hit Turkey's chances of qualifying for Euro2008.

Newcastle midfielder Emre and former Aston Villa defender Alpay, now at Cologne, have been banned for six matches for their part in the clashes in Istanbul on November 16.

Turkey lost the play-off and after the final whistle players and officials were involved in a mass brawl on the pitch and in the tunnel.

The Turkish FA have also been fined £88,300 (200,000 Swiss francs). Switzerland international Benjamin Huggel has been banned for six matches after he was filmed kicking out at Turkey assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek, who has himself been banned from all football-related activity for a year.

The violence continued in the tunnel and Swiss defender Stephane Grichting was taken to hospital and needed a catheter inserted after being kicked in the stomach during a free-for-all.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had promised 'we will take tough action' after the scenes and, in terms of international teams, the sanctions are unprecedented.

The disciplinary committee also announced two-match bans for Turkish player Serkan Balci and Swiss physio Stephan Meyer.

Turkey's football federation said it would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Haluk Ulusoy, president of the Turkish Football Federation, said he was confident CAS would rule in Turkey's favour.

'I'm very sad both for me and for my country but I am a person who loves a struggle,' he told reporters.

Turkey's sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin told NTV news channel: 'I describe this decision as unacceptable. This is a political decision rather than a sports decision.'

'We are very surprised at the seriousness of the punishments, but we don't want to compare our punishment with the Turkish punishment,' said Pierre Benoit, spokesman for the Swiss FA.

'We don't want to judge the Turkish punishment either. As far as I know Bernard is in Germany with his club (Eintracht Frankfurt) and is talking to his lawyer.'

FIFA launched a widespread investigation the week after the match and interviewed 22 people about the incidents as witnesses or defendants.

Grichting was unable to attend the hearings for medical reasons and submitted his statement in writing.

Punishments

• Turkey ordered to play next six home matches behind closed doors in a neutral venue in another country and to pay all organisational costs with regard to these six matches.
• Turkish FA fined £88,300 plus procedural costs of £8,830.
• Alpay Ozalan (Turkey player) - Suspended for Turkey's next six matches. Fined £6,622 plus costs of £440.
• Emre Belozoglu (Turkey player) - Suspended for Turkey's next six matches. Fined £6,622 plus costs of £440.
• Serkan Balci (Turkey player) - Suspended for Turkey's next two matches. Fined £2,200 plus costs of £220.
• Mehmet Ozdilek (Turkey assistant coach) - Banned from taking part in any football-related activity for 12 months. Fined £6,622 plus costs of £440.
• Benjamin Huggel (Switzerland player) - Suspended for Switzerland's next six matches. Fined £6,622 plus costs of £220.
• Stephan Meyer (Switzerland physiotherapist) - Suspended for Switzerland's next two matches. Fined £2,870 plus costs of £220.