"Alpay cannot play for the Turkish national team."

"We have to abandon a player who did wrong, but who served the team for 10 to 15 years, by expressing our gratitude," Gunes said.

Alpay was seen taunting David Beckham after the England captain missed a penalty during Saturday’s Euro 2004 qualifier in Istanbul, then jabbed a finger in Beckham’s face as they walked off during half-time.

The Turkish defender was involved in a scuffle in the tunnel involving about 50 players and officials.

Press reports quoted Beckham as saying the Turkey defender insulted his mother. On his web site, Alpay denied the accusation.

"When Beckham missed the penalty, I went up to him and said: God is big, justice has been done. If you had shot 100 times, they would all have missed," Alpay said of Beckham’s penalty, which sailed over the crossbar.

"At half-time, when we went to the changing rooms, Beckham probably could not stomach what I said and he ran up to me and said something.

"When I was trying to understand what he was telling me, he hit me with his shoulder," Alpay said.

"I got angry and I was about to walk up to him when our security guards intervened and took me away. Whatever happened after that, there was a brawl between our security guards and the English players."