FIFA launch inquiry into Turkey-Swiss incidents

FIFA president Sepp Blatter condemned violence at the end of Turkey's World Cup play-off against Switzerland as "trampling fair play underfoot" and announced an investigation by world soccer's ruling body.

"I can tell you this, not as a Swiss but as the president of FIFA, that we will act here and we will act tough," Blatter told a news conference yesterday.

"In the past few days, fair play has been trampled under foot, not just on the pitch but also outside. That hurts."

Switzerland, 2-0 up from the first leg, reached the World Cup finals in Germany next year on away goals despite Turkey winning the second leg 4-2 in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The Swiss players left the pitch under a hail of objects thrown by the Turkish crowd. Players from both sides clashed as they ran off the field. The punishment after the inquiry could range from a warning to the suspension of any football association found at fault. The investigation must be finished by December 9, the day of the draw for the 2006 World Cup finals, Blatter said.

Switzerland defender Stephane Grichting needed hospital treatment after being kicked in the stomach and had a catheter inserted. He will be out injured for up to 10 days.

"The inquiry will show whether we will investigate against Switzerland, too," Blatter said.

Turkish Football Federation deputy chairman Sekip Mosturoglu told CNN Turk that he was disappointed by Blatter's comments.

"The statements by FIFA President Blatter were extremely unfortunate. It is dangerous and wrong for Blatter to make a statement without having seen the reports," he said.

Mosturoglu said some security personnel had to go to hospital after the match: "Presumably our players didn't beat up their own security personnel."

Turkey, surprise semi-finalists at the 2002 World Cup, had two fines for crowd disturbances plus two warnings during their World Cup qualifying campaign, FIFA officials said.

On arrival at Istanbul airport the Switzerland squad was kept waiting for two hours at passport control and baggage reclaim. Police struggled to hold back fans shouting abuse at the Swiss players and the team bus was pelted with eggs.

The Turkish football federation has complained that Swiss fans jeered their national anthem in the Berne first leg and Turkish players had been abused after Saturday's match.

Blatter said events in Berne will also be investigated. "I am hopping mad about this," he told journalists. "What has happened is not worthy of football."

On Wednesday television pictures showed Swiss player Benjamin Huggel kicking out at Turkey's assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek as he left the pitch.

Blatter said FIFA had not yet received a report of what exactly happened after the match.

Switzerland midfielder Johann Lonfat was quoted by L'Equipe newspaper as saying that Turkish police were involved in violence in the tunnel.

"After the match, the players rushed into the tunnel to the changing rooms," Lonfat said. "There some Swiss players were beaten by Turkish players and by police who were supposed to provide security."