British newspapers told to be nice to Turkey

The commission for Racial Equality is to warn all national newspapers against sensationalist reporting in the run-up to England’s crucial European qualifying match in Turkey amid fears that it could increase tension and lead to violence. The CRE chair Trevor Phillips is planning to write to national newspaper editors pointing out their responsibilities and the dangers of a hyperbolic build-up to the match.

Concern is growing within the organisation over some of the reporting that has already appeared which, claim CRE officials, is resorting to dangerous racial stereotypes of Turkish people. There is also concern that some newspapers have slipped into the wider Islamophobia prevalent in Britain. One tabloid newspaper referred to how Turkish fans will be waiting for the arrival of the "infidels" for the October 11 clash.