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UEFA probe half-time brawl video
LONDON, England -- Fresh video evidence of English and Turkey players involved in a tunnel fracas at half-time in their Euro 2004 qualifier is to be examined by European governing body UEFA. The Turkish television pictures show Emile Heskey and other England players reacting angrily to taunts by home midfielder Hasan Sas. Referee Pierluigi Collini is seen trying to calm down the players and UEFA say they will act on the basis of his report and the video evidence. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has spoken to striker Heskey about the incidents and suggested that: "......if Emile reacted it must have been something very serious. "Emile is not a person who reacts, despite the provocation he gets. He is a very quiet man," he told a news conference ahead of the UEFA Cup first round return against Olimpija Ljubljana on Wednesday. "And he was not the only one to react. Whether it was for him or one of his team mates, I don't know. I think it's maybe something that has been done to one of them, but I don't know." UEFA aim to find out and spokesman Mike Lee said: "We're in touch with Turkish television to obtain all the evidence that they have on camera. "We are requesting all the pictures that are available and trust they will provide them in full. We are also in contact with the FAs of both countries to get statements from them." Lee said UEFA's disciplinary body would deal with the matter at its next meeting on October 30, but he dismissed reports that one of both the teams could be banned from next summer's championship in Portugal. The confrontation was initially sparked when Turkey defender Alpay Ozalan confronted England skipper David Beckham after his penalty miss and continued to taunt the Real Madrid star as the players walked off the pitch at half-time. The footage, which lasts only a few seconds, shows England defender John Terry being calmed down and restrained by Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber as they enter the area outside the dressing rooms. Turkish defender Bulent Korkmaz is seen pointing and shouting, while midfielder Sas -- a substitute who didn't play -- approaches and says something to the England players. British newspapers alleged that Sas set off the scuffles by making racist comments to defender Ashley Cole, who is black. The footage then shows Heskey lunging forward and reaching out at Sas, with Cole, goalkeeper David James and defender Sol Campbell also pushing into the crowd. At one point, a hand pushes the camera away. Newspapers reported the Turkish cameraman said the hand belonged to Beckham. UEFA action startedUEFA has already decided to start disciplinary proceedings against the Turkish FA for incidents when flares were lit in the stadium and a couple of missiles thrown on the pitch. UEFA said it was "extremely happy" with the overall safety and security in Istanbul but the match delegate had reported infringements. "We have started proceedings against the Turkish FA for a lack of order and discipline in the stadium," added Lee. "This will lead to a disciplinary charge to be heard at the control and disciplinary body meeting on 30 October. "Mr Collina was able to see most of what happened in the tunnel himself and in fact dealt with what happened extremely well, he spoke to David Beckham and Alpay and calmed things down."
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