The English Football Association and UEFA are coming under increased pressure to investigate the racist chanting that took place during England's match against Turkey as part of the wider inquiry into the incidents that marred last Wednesday's European qualifying game in Sunderland.
The FA and UEFA have said they will investigate the pitch invasions during the game but neither has so far said whether it will look into the racial chanting. Neither organisation has so far condemned the chanting, which included fans singing "I'd rather be a Paki than a Turk" and could be heard by television viewers throughout the match.
UEFA has said it is committed to weeding out racism within the game and ordered Slovakia to play its European qualifying match against Liechtenstein on Wednesday behind closed doors because of racist abuse of England's black players during the recent match between the two teams.
Kick It Out, the football anti-racism group, yesterday called upon UEFA and the FA to investigate the racist chanting. A spokesman said: "It is quite ironic that the same England fans who said they were acting against racism in Slovakia were involved in racist chanting last Wednesday. UEFA must send out a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. We cannot have one rule for teams like Slovakia and another for England."
UEFA was not available for comment yesterday but a spokesman for the FA said: "We will have various reports on every aspect of the match against Turkey and we will be discussing all the issues. I am sure that any reported incidents of racism will be part of these discussions."
Meanwhile, the Turkish FA is believed to have chosen the Istanbul club Fenerbahce's ground for the return match against England on October 11th.
The Turkish FA does not have to confirm the venue until 60 days before the clash but reports yesterday said the 50,000-capacity Sukru Saracoglu Stadium had been earmarked. The FA has still not decided whether to take up its ticket allocation for the match.
The Turkey and Blackburn midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu has denied reports he made death threats to England players in the tunnel. "Death has no place in football. Throughout my career I have never threatened another player," he said yesterday.
Guardian Service
Leading players from around the country last night gathered in Dublin as the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland launched its guide to the forthcoming National League season, which kicks off next weekend, reports Emmet Malone.
The magazine, which contains profiles of the league's 22 clubs, will be distributed free at many of the opening round of games including next Thursday's between Derry City and Longford Town - the first of the Premier Division campaign.
"It's a very exciting venture for us, but only the first, I hope, of many during the coming years," said the union's chairman, Stephen McGuinness.
"There is a great deal of excitement about summer soccer and a lot of optimism its arrival here is going to mean better times for everyone involved in the league."
