© EuroFootball.com
The Discipline Committee of the International Football Associations Federation (FIFA) has decided to impose a six-match disqualification on the Turkish Football Federation for incidents that occurred during last year's World Cup qualifying match against Switzerland in October. Three players who caused disturbances were also given the same penalty.
After the tense extra European World Cup qualifying match held in Istanbul on November 16, 2005, which the Swiss lost 4-2, but ultimately overcame their opponents with away goals to secure a spot in the World Cup, some representatives of both teams engaged in a brawl and even exchanged blows. FIFA immediately began investigating the incident and has now announced the penalties imposed.
According to today's decision of the FIFA Discipline Committee, Turkey will have to "play six official home matches behind closed doors in a neutral stadium in another UEFA member country, located no more than 500 kilometers from the Turkish border." Additionally, the Turkish Football Federation will have to pay a fine of 130,000 euros and also cover the costs of the proceedings, amounting to practically the same sum.
For their roles in the scuffle, defenders Alpay Özalan and Emre will have to miss six official national team matches each and pay fines of 10,000 euros. Their teammate Serkan Balci received a two-match disqualification and a 3,000 euro fine, while former national team assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek, who has already resigned from his position, will be unable to participate in football-related activities for a year and will also have to pay 10,000 euros.
The Swiss were not spared punishment either - one of the most active instigators, defender Benjamin Huggel, like his Turkish counterparts, received a six-match disqualification and a 10,000 euro fine. Sanctions were also imposed on Swiss physiotherapist Stephan Meyer - he was disqualified for two matches and fined 4,000 euros.
According to FIFA, all those punished, except for Serkan Balci and Stephan Meyer, have the right to appeal to the FIFA Appeals Committee, and later, if necessary, to the final instance - the Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Lausanne.
