UEFA moves games away from Turkey
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Juve's Nedved (right) won't be facing Galatasaray's Batista in Istanbul.
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NYON, Switzerland -- UEFA have moved three games scheduled to be played in Turkey to neutral locations following last week's suicide bomb attacks in Istanbul.
Galatasaray's Champions League clash with Juventus, originally due to be played on Tuesday evening, and Besiktas' game with Chelsea in two weeks will be played outside Turkey because of security concerns.
Maccabi Haifa's UEFA Cup match with Valencia, due to be played in Turkey because of safety issues in Israel, will also be moved.
The decision by UEFA's Emergency Committee comes in the wake of last Thursday's bomb attacks at the British consulate and HSBC bank headquarters which killed 31 people.
That followed bombings at two Istanbul synagogues this month, killing 25 people.
"The decision follows a broad evaluation of the current threat to security, the advice offered by various governments, including the assurances offered by the Turkish government, and the investigations still being undertaken by the relevant authorities," UEFA said in a statement.
"Taking everything into account, the Emergency Panel felt that it was in the overall interests of the clubs, players, fans and European football in general to move these particular ties at this time," the statement added.
"Steps will now be taken to establish the venues and dates for these matches."
Turkey's deputy prime minister and sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin condemned UEFA's decision.
"This decision is an irresponsible one. It amounts to making concessions toward the terrorists," Ali Sahin told CNN-Turk television.
"I would like to say that I am disappointed in the name of sports."
