The Hindu : Sport / Football : Turkey coach quits over role in Swiss match trouble

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Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005

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Turkey coach quits over role in Swiss match trouble

ISTANBUL: Turkey's assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek resigned on Tuesday for his role in the fighting that followed last week's 2006 World Cup play-off match with Switzerland.

Ozdilek was accused of sparking the trouble at Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu stadium last Wednesday after newspapers published pictures showing him trying to trip a Swiss player as the visiting team rushed to the dressing rooms after the final whistle.

He was then kicked by Switzerland's Benjamin Huggel, who went on to hurl himself at Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan. The two grappled and fell to the ground as the scene exploded into a free-for-all. FIFA has opened an inquiry into the match, which Turkey won 4-2, but nonetheless failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup on the away goals rule, having lost the first leg 2-0 in Berne.

The Turkish Football Association announced Ozdilek's resignation and said he would hold a press conference in the coming days to explain his decision.

The 39-year-old, who played at Besiktas between 1988 and 2001, began coaching the national side in July as an assistant to Fatih Terim, who is also under pressure to quit, accused of pumping up tensions ahead of the Switzerland match. The Football Association has also faced calls to resign.

The Turkish government stepped into the row Monday, announcing a probe into the incidents by inspectors from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office.

"Those promoting Turkey through sports cannot act in a way that humiliates Turkey," Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, who oversees sports, said.

A specially appointed commission is also wrapping up work to assess the performance of sports federations over the past year, he said. — AFP

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