They'll probably throw the book at us, which wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that they don't throw the book at Italy or Georgia. What really interests me is what UEFA will do when the ************ hits the fan during the return leg in Turkey...
Where is the consistency??? The referee didnt even mention the chants in his match report.I see plenty of this kind of behaviour in games across europe and how many of these cases have been punished with games being played behind closed doors??? Inter milan fans clearly made monkey noises in the newcastle game..I didnt see them get charged by uefa. In the Georgia vs ireland game,a knife was thrown from the crowd and it hit kilbane on the shoulder if I remember rightly..Where the hell is the uefa investigation for that incident??? Its different rules for different teams.. Turdkey didnt get charged when their fans invaded the pitch after the ireland game and attacked the ireland squad..
The chants used were "I'd rather be a Paki than a Turk" and "I'd rather be Iraqi than a Turk" I'm not sure where I stand on this, it's derogatory but is it racist? Afterall it's about nationality, not race and it's something unique to an England/Turkey game. I think UEFA should lump the FA with a hefty fine and a suspended sentence (ie, do it again and you will play behind closed doors) another thing is UEFA had better get this right because if English fans travel to Turkey (and I think they should) then what happened in Sunderland will be nothing in comparison...
You know something else? I can't believe Alpay hasn't been charged with inciting the crowd, afterall it's clear he kicked a fan up the arse when they were on the pitch. Obviously UEFA feel that cracking down on some chants is more important
We all know what will happen in turdkey dont we??? Those tossers wil try every trick in the book and then blame it on us.
Yup, what bothers me is the fact that because of all this we'll probably end up suffering during qualifying, which will benefit Turkey. Now, we all know there's going to be a lot of trouble in Turkey and what will happen to them? Not much, certainly nothing that will have any bearing on qualifying for Euro 2004. If we get the book thrown at us then Turkey should be warned, if they can't keep their fans in order during the return leg then they face a points deduction.. simpel as that.
I really don't see any of this as a surprise do you? It has been their way for so many years that it will not change. I remember back in the late 70's or perhaps even the early 80's when Rangers where drawn against one of the southern Irish teams...i think it was Cork City, but i could be wrong here...in a qualifier of some sort for the UEFA cup. Well, needless to say there was quite a bit of aggro and bother at the game and in and around the ground.There was more bovver in the city and even more bovver on the roads to and at the ferrys. All in all it was a sorry tale. What happened? Nothing! Now, i think it was a year or so later that West ham was playing some Eastern Europe team in the cup winners cup (i think) and there was a very small disturbance in the city for the away leg. Guess what happened. Yep...UEFA decided that it simply couldn't have that carry on. West ham had to play the return leg behind closed doors. I expect there to be plenty of trouble in Turkey. Anyone that goes will be taking a very big risk. I fully expect there will be no action taken against the Turks by UEFA other than a " i'm warning you" lecture.
Whilst I don't condone the racist chants (if they can be interpreted as racist) of the England fans against Turkey, it must be said that I've heard far worse from the racist redneck scum of Eastern Europe and Russian republics whenever England are in town. Nothing is done because most of these countries don't have a 'profile'. So UEFA make an example of us as it looks good. Fair enough, if we have to cop it then we set a precedent. As long as UEFA is just as heavy in future with the countries who play in front of these backward morons then I've no complaint. Somehow I doubt it.
For the record: Georgia have to play their next game behind closed doors because of the pen knife incident. I don't think there's any doubt now that the game with Slovakia will be behind closed doors and I accept this. Well, I accept this for the time being... we'll wait to see what happens in the aftermath of the game in Turkey.
I don't see how an object thrown from the croud and actually hitting a player compares with crowd abuse (be it racist or otherwise). If England are to be forced to play the Slovakia game in an empty stadium, then Georgia should have all future home games in this tournament played behind closed doors.
The same thing happened to Slovakia after the game against England. So if they banned Slovakia then they will have to ban England for the next game. Imo a fine would have been better in both cases. (England and Slovakia)
Yer probably right but UEFA couldn't fine the Slovakian FA by anything significant or they'd have bankrupted them.