Soccer: Inquiry into Turkey-Swiss violence

Fifa president Sepp Blatter promised tough action from world soccer's ruling body today after Turkey's World Cup playoff loss to Switzerland finished in attacks on both sides and one player hospitalised.

"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 said when announcing an investigation into violence before and after yesterday's game in Istanbul.

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

The punishment after the inquiry could range from a warning to the suspension of any soccer 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 in an apparent free-for-all after the game. He needed a catheter inserted and will be out for up to 10 days.

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

The visiting 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.

Swiss midfielder Johann Lonfat said local police, there to provide security, had joined in attacks on his team mates.

"Grichting received some blows," Lonfat said.

"He was covered in blood. He went to hospital, shocked ... we were attacked. It was unbelievable.

"This went beyond the limits of intimidation. I was told: 'We're going to slit your throat'."

Blatter, who described himself as "hopping mad" added: "It (the inquiry) will show whether we will investigate against Switzerland, too.

"At the moment we're just questioning and we're questioning both sides because, of course, the Swiss want to justify themselves after what has happened."

Turkish Football Federation deputy chairman Sekip Mosturoglu told CNN Turk 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 and data," 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," he said.

Turkey, surprise semifinalists 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 were 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.

On Tuesday, Swiss foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey sent a letter of complaint to the Turkish government, calling the team's reception by Turkish fans "unacceptable behaviour".

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

"The incidents in Switzerland put a nation on edge ... they exerted psychological pressure off the pitch," the Turkish Federation's Mosturoglu said.

Blatter said events in Berne would also be investigated.

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

Switzerland's team spokesman Pierre Benoit said: "We haven't seen the pictures yet, so we're not making any statement.

"In principle, however, we believe Huggel was defending himself after he and Tranquillo Barnetta came under attack."

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

- REUTERS