Action Replay
‘UEFA are likely to take a rather more objective view of a video of the half-time scrap between the English and Turkish players than have the tabloids over here.
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| Handbags and bad lads |
Otherwise, they will have already decided that it was all the Turks fault and the English players were only responding to intolerable provocation.
The Mirror, for instance, publishes a still taken from the Turkish TV footage of Emile Heskey involved in a melee with what looks like Turkish officials.
This is the moment England striker Emile Heskey sparked a furious tunnel bust-up after reacting to racial abuse, it says (although what evidence it has for this assertion we are not told).
However, the Star is worried that Uefa will come down heavily on both sides.
There is a chance players could be banned if they are charged and found guilty, it says.
And worryingly for England, any ban would come into play at the start of Euro 2004 Englands next competitive matches.
However, it is not only the English that have decided to make Turkish defender Alpay Public Enemy No.1.
The Turkish keeper Rustu Recber also blames his team-mate.
As a result of Alpays stupid behaviour, we did not talk at all about tactics and how we were going to beat England at half-time, he says.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand is desperately trying to avoid a ban of his own for failing to attend a drugs test.
However, the Sun says the Manchester United defender could be saved with help from an unlikely source Manchester City midfielder Eyal Berkovic.
The Israeli, who used to play with Ferdinand at West Ham, will be called upon to give evidence to his friends state of mind on the afternoon in question and how much effort he made to be tested after he realised his mistake.
Meanwhile, there was better news for Englands rugby players with the news in the Expess that Kyran Bracken will be fit for the Springboks match on Saturday and Matt Dawson may even make it.
The Mail isnt so sure, suggesting that Dawson is definitely out, flanker Richard Hill is doubtful and second row Danny Grewcock will be only an emergency substitute after team-mate Ben Cohen accidentally trod on his foot and broke his toe.’
Posted: 14th, October 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
