Turks vow to fight punishments

TURKEY are set to take on the most powerful man in football to fight the severe punishments imposed for the violent clashes after November’s World Cup play-off defeat against Switzerland.

FIFA have ordered Turkey to play their next six competitive matches behind closed doors and on neutral grounds, and taken action against several players and officials.

But Turkey’s sports minister Mehmet Ali Sahin claims the disciplinary committee were simply abiding by FIFA’s Swiss president Sepp Blatter’s wishes.

Sahin said: “I find this decision unacceptable. This is simply the approval of what Sepp Blatter said right after the game without even looking at the observer and referee reports on the game. That’s why I think this decision is more political than sporting.”