ANTALYA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Wednesday that the decision of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to switch Galatasaray's and Besiktas' matches with Juventus and Chelsea from Turkey to neutral venues was unacceptable.
Replying to questions of reporters, Baykal said, ''UEFA's decision is unacceptable. Turkey can't endure it. It is not possible for me to endure seeing my country as a country where matches can't take place.''
Baykal noted that UEFA's decision meant yielding to terrorism, adding, ''Turkey's situation is no way an obstacle before matches. We can't endure this decision which reflects a mentality of surrendering to terrorism. I call on officials to take a decision against this decision of UEFA. Matches are played in Istanbul every day. Aren't our teams under threat? Is it only their teams which are under threat?''
(BRC-AÖ) 26.11.2003