UEFA issue sanctions to Turkish FA
NYON, Switzerland -- UEFA have fined the Turkish FA 80,000 Swiss francs ($62,020) and banned three of their players after violent incidents at two international matches last month.
A 50,000 Swiss franc fine related to disorder at the under-21 playoff 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 also kicked.
Turkish security staff also physically attacked German players, UEFA added.
Beyhan Sumer got a five-match ban for being sent off and for attacking the German keeper 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.
World Cup semi-finalists Turkey have no competitive matches before then as they failed to qualify for Euro 2004, losing the Latvia playoff 3-2 on aggregate.
The Turkish FA also received a further 30,000 Swiss francs fine 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, Turkish club Galatasaray were 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.
Meanwhile, the trashing of a dressing room by the Portugal Under-21 side has led to UEFA handing out a 6,500 euro fine to the Portuguese football federation.
The visiting players' behaviour after the match against France in Clermont Ferrand on November 18 had been described as "wild" and unacceptable" by French coach Raymond Domenech.
Domenech had said the Portugal players "were not in their normal state" and claimed syringes had been found in their dressing room. But those comments sparked an angry response from Portuguese football chiefs who demanded a formal apology from Domenech.
Portugal won the Euro 2004 U21 play-off on a penalty shoot out.
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