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Turks blast UEFA for ban on Galatasaray fans |
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April
15, 2000
ANKARA, APR 14 (AP) - A Turkish government minister accused Leeds United on Friday of trying to use the murders of two of its fans in Istanbul as a means of advancing to the UEFA Cup final and said England was incapable of hosting the 2006 World Cup.
Turkish government and soccer officials were furious after UEFA,
European soccer's governing body, barred Galatasaray fans from next week's UEFA Cup second-leg semifinal in Leeds.
Two Leeds fans were stabbed to death in fights with Turks last week on the eve of the first leg game in Istanbul, won by Galatasaray 2-0.
Fearing reprisal attacks in Leeds, UEFA on Friday said the 1,750 tickets allocated to Galatasaray were invalid. Only 80 complimentary tickets will be allocated to Galatasaray.
Leeds had lobbied for the ban on Galatasaray fans, while Turkey had asked for the game to be moved to a neutral venue.
The winner of the two legs advances to the final in Copenhagen on May 17.
"They're trying to turn the murders into their advantage to win the match," said State Minister Fikret Unlu, the top government official in charge of sports. "But they won't win it."
"We regret this biased UEFA decision," he added. "This decision is against human rights." Unlu said UEFA's decision showed that England, bidding to stage the 2006 World Cup, is unable to protect its guests.
"It is not possible to have the 2006 World Cup there with these hooligan gangs," Unlu said.
Galatasaray officials also blasted UEFA."We condemn UEFA's decision," said Ali Durust, a Galatasaray spokesman. "This is a double standard."
Several Turkish ministers and lawmakers were seeking extra tickets to be able to attend the match to support Galatasaray.
"They can't say no to us," Unlu said. "We are determined to go there."
Celal Gurcan, another Galatasaray official, said the club would relay its security concerns to UEFA and demand that the match bemoved to a stadium with fences around the pitch.
"We have serious concerns about the security of our players,"Gurcan said.
UEFA, however, said its decision is "final and binding." |