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Turkey: Six games at neutral venue
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSISTANBUL, Turkey (Reuters) -- Turkey have been ordered by world governing body FIFA to play their next six home matches at a neutral ground and behind closed doors following a fracas after their World Cup playoff with Switzerland in Istanbul. FIFA said on Tuesday that two Turkish players, Alpay Ozalan and Emre Belozoglu, would be banned for six games as would Switzerland's Benjamin Huggel who admitted kicking Turkish assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek. Turkey said it would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. "I describe this decision as unacceptable. This is a political decision rather than a sports decision," Turkey's sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin told NTV news channel. Turkey were also fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($154,200). A number of other players and officials from both teams received fines and suspensions. The sanctions, which apply to official matches and not friendlies, are among the most severe handed out to a national association and will hit Turkey's chances of qualifying for the next European championship in 2008. Switzerland won November's two-legged playoff to qualify for the 2006 World Cup starting in June at the expense of Turkey, semifinalists in 2002. Huggel's ban means he will be suspended for all of Switzerland's World Cup matches in Germany, unless they reach the final, and is also likely to miss games at Euro 2008. Ozdilek has been ordered to stay away from soccer for 12 months for his part in the incidents. He resigned after television pictures showed him attempting to trip a Swiss player as they left the pitch. Television pictures showed defender Alpay kicking Swiss forward Marco Streller in the players' tunnel after the game. "Very surprised""We are very surprised at the seriousness of the punishments, but we don't want to compare our punishment with the Turkish punishment," said Pierre Benoit, spokesman for the Swiss FA. "We don't want to judge the Turkish punishment either. As far as I know Bernard is in Germany with his club (Eintracht Frankfurt) and is talking to his lawyer." FIFA held a meeting on Monday and Tuesday at their Zurich headquarters to decide the punishments. President Sepp Blatter, a Swiss, said in November he was hopping mad at the damage to soccer's image caused by the fracas. Haluk Ulusoy, president of the Turkish Football Federation, said he was confident CAS would rule in Turkey's favor. "I'm very sad both for me and for my country but I am a person who loves a struggle," he told reporters. Turkey won the game in Istanbul, played on November 16, 4-2 but went out of the World Cup on the away goals rule after losing the first leg 2-0 in Bern four days earlier. Mayhem followed the final whistle as players and officials from both sides were involved in a brawl in the players' tunnel. Swiss substitute defender Stephane Grichting came off worst after receiving a kick in the groin that required hospital treatment. The full list of punishments handed out by FIFA: Turkish Football Federation Ordered to play next six home matches behind closed doors at a neutral venue in another country and to pay all organizational costs with regard to these six matches. Fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($154,200) plus procedural costs of 20,000 Swiss francs. Alpay Ozalan (Turkey) Suspended for next six internationals. Fined 15,000 Swiss francs plus costs of 1,000 Swiss francs. Emre Belozoglu (Turkey) Suspended for next six internationals. Fined 15,000 Swiss francs plus costs of 1,000 Swiss francs. Serkan Balci (Turkey) Suspended for next two internationals. Fined 5,000 Swiss francs plus costs of 500 Swiss francs. Mehmet Ozdilek (Turkey assistant coach) Banned from taking part in any football-related activity for 12 months. Fined 15,000 Swiss francs plus costs of 1,000 Swiss francs. Benjamin Huggel (Switzerland) Suspended for next six internationals. Fined 15,000 Swiss francs plus costs of 500 Swiss francs. Stephan Meyer (Switzerland physiotherapist) Suspended for Switzerland's next two matches. Fined 6,500 Swiss francs plus costs of 500 Swiss francs. 
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