UEFA probes Turkey fans incident
Reuters - Wednesday 30 March 2011, 16:28
BERNE - UEFA is probing incidents at
Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier in Istanbul where Austria's
goalkeeper was pelted with objects by Turkey fans.
Jurgen Macho went down after being struck by the objects -
which appeared to be plastic sticks from flags waved by
supporters - as he took a goal kick amid a chorus of jeering
and whistling late in the match.
Macho played on and completed the game which was won 2-0 by
Turkey.
"We are looking at the incident to decide whether we need to
open a disciplinary case," a UEFA spokesman told Reuters.
UEFA also responded to comments by Spain goalkeeper Iker
Casillas who complained bitterly about the state of the pitch in
Kaunas where the world champions beat Lithuania 3-1.
European football's governing body said it was up to the
referee and the home association to decide whether the pitch was
fit to play on.
"If the host association finds a match cannot take place,
for example because the field is not fit for play or because of
the weather, it must notify the visiting association and the
referee before their departure from home and the UEFA
administration at the same time," said UEFA in a statement.
"In this case the match must be played on another date as
agreed by the host association and the visiting association,
subject to the approval of the UEFA administration.
"In the specific case of Tuesday night's match the referee
decided after assessing the situation the pitch was fit for the
game to go ahead," read the statement.
Casillas described the pitch as "impossible to play on" and
a "disaster".