Extra tight security for Turkey-England clash

Published Sep 25, 2003

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Nyon, Switzerland - Uefa and Turkish and English FA chiefs have unveiled plans for extra-tight security to stop England fans attending next month's highly-charged European Championship qualifying decider in Istanbul.

Uefa chief executive Gerhard Aigner, chairing a news conference on Thursday, said England supporters who police suspected were likely to go to the match on October 11 would be turned away at the airport.

There would also be a checkpoint outside the stadium where fans would have to prove they were Turkish supporters with identity cards.

Inside the arena, if police still found English supporters, they would be immediately ejected, the boss of European football's governing body told the conference.

"No stone has been left unturned in terms of government help, police agreement and help from the security forces," English FA chairperson Geoff Thompson said.

"I am happy we could not have done any more than we have done."

The match, which will decide automatic qualification from Group Seven, has attracted considerable adverse publicity in both countries after a number of clashes between rival supporters.

Relations reached an all-time low in 2000 after two Leeds United supporters were stabbed to death during trouble before a Uefa Cup match against Galatasaray.

In April, England beat Turkey 2-0 in Sunderland but the game was marred by racist chanting by home fans and a pitch invasion which resulted in a record Uefa fine.

The FA wrote an open letter to supporters earlier this month warning the national team could face expulsion from Euro 2004 if trouble erupted in the Sukru Saracoglu stadium.

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