Soccer-UEFA ruling rewards "terrorism", Turkish PM says

Reuters ^ | 11/26/2003 | Ayla Jean Yackley

[a_Turk]

ISTANBUL, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The decision to move two Champions League matches from Turkey to neutral venues rewards "terrorism", Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

European soccer's governing body UEFA took the decision after a series of bomb attacks in Istanbul over the last two weeks killed more than 50 people.

Galatasaray's Champions League match with Juventus, initially due to be played on Tuesday, and Besiktas' game against Chelsea in two weeks will be played at later dates and outside of Turkey. The venues have yet to be announced.

Militants apparently linked with Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al Qaeda network have claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings on British targets on November 20 which followed similar coordinated attacks on two synagogues five days previously.

More than 50 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the four attacks.

"SERIOUS MISTAKE"

"Treating Turkey like it is a centre of terrorism after the events of one week is to give a premium to terrorism," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian news agency.

"We will most certainly protest this matter to UEFA. I don't find this decision just... they are making a very serious mistake," he said, adding discussions were underway with officials in both Italy and Britain over the matter.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul summoned the Italian and British ambassadors in Ankara to the Foreign Ministry to express Turkey's unhappiness over the ruling and to ask for their help in convincing UEFA to reverse its decision, Anatolian said.

Turkish newspapers said Erdogan spoke with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, with whom he enjoys a personal friendship, ahead of the UEFA ruling to ask the Italian leader's support in keeping the matches on Istanbul turf.

Galatasaray president Ozhan Canaydin said the appeal by Juventus to move the match was "meaningless" but signalled his club and Besiktas would comply with the ruling.

"If we refuse to play the match UEFA's punishment will be great. We will act with Besiktas together," he told the private NTV news channel.

[a_Turk]

Europe works to satisfy terrorists' goals ping.

[aristotleman]

An excuse to punish Turkey for being a US ally. Covert undermining. Unless the Euros get attacked by the Quaidas, they will be using this excuse to isolate Turkey. Next thing you know, you can't be EU members because of "too much terrorism".

[Mortimer Snavely]

I've heard it explained and I understand the great hopes that Turkey places on the EU, but for the life of me, the best deal I can see Turks getting from EU membership is the surrender of national sovereignty, the entire country de-industrialized and turned into a resource of raw materials and cheap labor, as well as becoming a market for capital and commodities.

In short, EU membership will, as far as I can see, only develop the underdevelopment of Turkey.

[Beck_isright]

This is the same outfit, if I remember, that invited Sadam's national team to play in Europe. Of course, the Europeans are such wusses, they would invite Hitler's son to be President of the EU if they could find the mythical boy.

[aristotleman]

The Euros resent the Turks, the Greeks, and other peoples of former glory. We are too "savage" for them. A_Turk thinks it's a good idea to enter the EU, for many reasons. I just don't see it. I wish we could get out.

[longjack]

If Al Qaida were to hit Italy and Spain they could effectually wipe out the Champions League.

Galatsaray and Besitkas stand to lose a lot of money from this, also. Not only in lost gate receipts, but the taking away of their home field could decrease their chance to advance. The big clubs rely on that CL income.

longjack

[No Truce With Kings]

Turkey, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, UK and Spain should be offered spots in NAFTA -- provided they stay out of or get out of the EU.

[Turk2]

Here's our first answer to UEFA's ruling.

Galatasaray (TUR): 2 - Juventus (ITA): 0

Goals : Hakan Sukur 47,90

Venue : Westfallen Stadium, Dortmund, GER

Attendance : 50,000 ( Turks : 50,000 , Italians : 0 )

Istanbul's supporters celebrate prior to the Champions League group D match between Galatasaray Istanbul and Juventus Turin at the Westphalia stadium in Dortmund, western Germany, Tuesday Dec. 2, 2003. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Supporters of Turkish club Galatasaray Istanbul celebrate after a Champions League group D first round soccer match against Italian club Juventus Turin, in Dortmund, December 2, 2003. Galatasaray won the match 2-0. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

Istanbul's Goektan Berkant, center, charges through Turin players during the Champions League group D match between Galatasaray Istanbul and Juventus Turin at the Westphalia stadium in Dortmund, western Germany, Tuesday Dec.2,2003. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Hakan Suekuer (top), team captain of Galatasaray Istanbul, challenges Edgar Davids (2ndR) and Antonio Conte (L) of Juventus Turin during their Champions League Group D first phase match at the Westfalen stadium in Dortmund, Germany, December 2, 2003. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Hakan Suekuer of Galatasaray Istanbul runs to score his second goal against Juventus Turin's goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti (bottom) and Edgar Davids (L), during their Champions League Group D first phase match at the Westfalen stadium in Dortmund, Germany, December 2, 2003. Galatasaray won the match, 2-0. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

[a_Turk]

Awesome pictures!

And soccer balls to the UEFA!!

[struwwelpeter]

Football bump!

[aristotleman]

Get those sneaky Italians.

[freedom44]

Bloodsucking Europeans.. up to no good as usual.

[STFrancis]

Jeeeez, playing in Dortmund IS a home game for Gala... Just look at the U-21 qualifier between Germany and Turkey.

Poor Turks. Everyone beats up on them.. BULLCRAP!!!!!

They boo and desecrate the memory of a player having just died on the field. They boo during national anthems. Don't get me started on this... IF the british would do 10% of the crap the turkish fans get away with they would ban British Soccer for life.

Now look what they are getting away with when Turkish SECURITY FORCES beat up players trying to get off the field.

Poor Turks... Yeah and european fans are WARNED not to attend matches in Europe due to the violence of turks against foreigners and people dying...

While I can't stand most of UEFA those guys TRY to do the right thing....

[longjack]

Did what you're describing just happen in the U21 championships?

I really haven't liked many of FIFA's actions since Blaetter took over. The absurd manner in which the referee's in the last two World Cups have been managed and chosen is a good example.

Besitkas plays Chelsea in Gelsenkirchen (Home of Schalke 04)
on Tuesday. Should be about the same crowd at that game as there was at Dortmund. I read an article that the Westfalen Stadium was trashed. Hundreds of Plastic Seats ripped out and the playing surface was torn up when the fans stormed the field after the game. Galatsaray has to pay the repairs.

With English and Turkish fans converging 'AufSchalke', it could get interesting, too.

longjack

[STFrancis]

It happened during the last game of qualifying for the Under-21 Euro's next year. Referee received 6 stitches to close a gaping head wound he received from stuff thrown at him from the stands. Well, playing those games in Germany assured the turkish teams of a home crowd. I am not surprised that they trashed "Auf Schalke". If that would have been the English Fans they would have been banned and it would have been reported in EVERY paper in Europe on the front page.

[longjack]

It was Westfalen Stadium in Dortmund that was trashed after the Galatsaray game.

I saw that Chelsea beat Besitkas 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen. 60,000 fans! I didn't see any reports of unusual circumstances, yet.

BTW, when I first posted about moving the games out of Turkey I didn't realize they would be in Germany. I agree with you about it being like a home game for Turkish teams in Germany.

longjack

[STFrancis]

Misread it.. my bad... (Couldn't happen to a nicer stadium though ) FC BAYERN, FC BAYERN - MEIN VEREIN!!!!!

[longjack]

I like 1 FC Kaiserslautern.

Too bad 'Betze' is in such trouble now. The Betzenberg is a gem of a stadium, too.

longjack

[STFrancis]

Well as you can imagine I don't have much love left for Kaiserslautern BUT I was HAPPY and ESTATIC to see them pull out of the death spiral. Hope they can continue getting their money situation under control. The Bundesliga wouldn't be the same without them.

Gosh, I do miss Fritz Walter though... May he rest in peace...

My favorite memory (and I wasn't even close to being born yet). Rahn koennte schiessen!!! Rahn schiesst UND..??????? TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRR!!!!

Still getting goose bumps just typing it...