FA in summit on England/Turkey clash

UEFA have called the English and Turkish football associations to a summit meeting in Switzerland later today to hammer out measures to prevent crowd trouble at the European Championship qualifier in Istanbul in October.

Ill-feeling between both sets of fans has already led the FA to impose a ban on England supporters travelling to the game but there are fears that some may make their own way to the match and buy tickets on the black market.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson and Turkey’s UEFA and FIFA member Senes Erzik were leading the respective delegations meeting UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner in Nyon today.

UEFA communications director Mike Lee, also due to be present at the meeting, said: “We need to make sure there is no complacency before the Turkey game. We know this match has the potential for difficulty and there are risks involved.

“We felt it would be useful to meet with representatives from England and Turkey well ahead of the game on October 11.

“We want to be fully informed on all of the safety and security measures that are being taken and discuss the co-operation that will be needed for this game.

“We have had a positive response from the two football associations and we believe it will be a constructive and useful meeting.”

UEFA, the game’s European ruling body, will press the Turks to confirm the venue for the match. Currently, it is expected to be at Fenerbahce’s stadium but there has been no final confirmation.

Both FAs have been in hot water with UEFA in recent months. The English FA were fined £70,000 (€100,000) for crowd trouble and racist chanting in the match against Turkey in April, and earlier this month the Turkish FA were fined £22,000 (€31,700) after Macedonia players were hit by missiles thrown by fans.

UEFA have also been unhappy with slightly inflammatory remarks coming out of Turkey about the decisive qualifier against England and will make their feelings known.

Lee added: “I am sure with the measures taken by both countries we feel we can produce a memorable evening on the pitch which would be good for football.”