ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey would certainly oppose to the decision of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to switch Champions League matches between Galatasaray and Besiktas and Juventus and Chelsea from Turkey to neutral venues.
Replying to questions of reporters, Erdogan said, ''we will contact Britain and Italy regarded with the issue. Firstly, we will oppose to UEFA. I don't think this decision is fair. Considering incidents that occurred in Turkey in this last week as an atmosphere of terrorism means giving premium for international terrorism. They are making a very serious mistake. I will immediately meet with deputy prime minister responsible for sports and heads of soccer clubs and we will take joint action to oppose to the decision.''
Asked about news that ''new terrorist attacks could take place in Istanbul and Ankara,'' Erdogan said, ''if we are to form a joint platform against international terrorism and if such intelligence is received, this intelligence will not be given to media but be given to the concerned country. There is a serious intelligence dilution.''
UEFA decided on Tuesday to switch matches of Galatasaray and Besiktas soccer teams of Turkey with Juventus of Italy and Chelsea of Besiktas from Turkey to neutral venues in the wake of last week's bomb attacks in Istanbul.
SAHIN: SWITCHING OF VENUES OF MATCHES OF GALATASARAY AND BESIKTAS HAS GAINED A DIPLOMATIC DIMENSION
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said that switching of venues of Champions League matches of Galatasaray and Besiktas teams of Turkey with Juventus of Italy and Chelsea of Britain had gained a diplomatic dimension.
Sahin told A.A correspondent that they would try to make Juventus and Chelsea to withdraw their demand for switching of the venues of the matches.
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) had taken a very wrong mistake, Sahin said.
Sahin noted that they would launch initiatives for review of that decision.
Galatasaray and Besiktas would send their objections to the decision through Football Federation today, Sahin stated.
Sahin said, ''Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will speak to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and request his help for withdrawal of demand of Chelsea and Juventus. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul summoned ambassadors of two countries this morning and held a meeting with them. He told the ambassadors that UEFA's decision had a deeper meaning than not playing matches in Istanbul. If Chelsea and Juventus withdraw their demand, we think UEFA can more easily change its decision.''
Recalling that Lottomatica Rome basketball team of Italy would play a match with Ulkerspor in Istanbul today, Sahin said, ''playing this match in Istanbul is meaningful. We can't fight against international terrorism by taking a backward step. It will continue to hit you as long as you make concessions.''
Sahin noted that they would launch every initiative to change UEFA's decision, adding that if they could not get any result, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would say the final word on what kind of an attitude would be assumed.
(BRC-AY) 26.11.2003