Turkish and Swiss sanctions stand

FIFA has maintained all of the disciplinary decisions taken with respect to incidents that took place at last November's FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off between Turkey and Switzerland in Istanbul.

Initial decision
FIFA's appeals committee said that, in accordance with the initial decision taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee, Turkey would have to play their next six competitive matches behind closed doors and at a neutral venue in another country affiliated to UEFA, with a minimum distance of 500 kilometres to the Turkish border. The Turkish Football Association must also pay a €130,000 fine.

Bans remain
In addition, Turkey players Alpay Özalan and Emre Belözoglu remain banned for the national team's next six competitive games, and must pay €10,000 fines. Team-mate Serkan Balcı is suspended for two official internationals and has a €3,000 fine, while Turkey assistant coach Mehmet Özdilek has been banned from taking part in any football-related activity for 12 months and receives a €10,000 penalty.

Swiss sanctions
Switzerland player Benjamin Huggel also stays suspended for six competitive matches and is fined €10,000. The other sanction taken against the Swiss team is a two-game ban for physiotherapist Stephan Meyer, who was also the recipient of a €4,000 fine. A FIFA statement said: "In accordance with the FIFA Statutes, the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne may be called upon to act as the body of final instance, once the reasoned decisions have been notified to the parties."