England have instigated a dirty tricks campaign against Turkey.

“What do you mean closing the ground?” Senol Gunes, the Turkey coach, fumed, issuing a reminder that England were only fined after fans ran on to the pitch during the first qualifying match in Sunderland in April.

“If they didn’t close the ground after the England match then they won’t do any such thing now,” Gunes said. “There is no such thing on our agenda. Maybe a warning, but certainly not that. England might be pleased if that happens but I don’t think it would do anyone any favours.”
“The English want it (a ban) to happen to us, I suppose, but I think they must be suffering from memory loss,” Can Cobanoglu, the Turkey manager, said. “If Turkey gets a ban for this then England should be disqualified from the tournament altogether for what happened there.”

Cobanoglu has already gone on record to suggest that England have instigated a dirty tricks campaign against Turkey. He said that they had been working with Slovakia since the start of the qualifiers to ensure that the two countries make it through and squeeze out Turkey, and that England were behind the obstructiveness of Slovak officials when Turkey played in Bratislava at the weekend. “We keep hearing unpleasant things from England,” he said.

The Turkish media also blamed the Macedonian players for exaggerating their celebrations after their second goal.