Sven apologises over Turkey remarks

The Swede attempted to dissuade supporters from travelling to Turkey by making reference to the two Leeds fans who died there before a UEFA Cup clash with Galatasaray in 2000.

That sparked Haluk Ulusoy, the president of the Turkish federation, into an angry response, arguing that Eriksson wanted to stop fans coming to Istanbul as ‘he doesn’t want them to see a defeat’.

Ulusoy added that Eriksson would be ‘sacked after the game because he will have no credibility left and will only be fit to manage the national team of Patagonia’.

However, Eriksson yesterday told the Turkish media: ‘I’m sorry that what I said has been interpreted in the way it has been as it was never my intention to cause any offence to anyone.

‘I do hope that the England fans heed the advice not to travel to Istanbul but I’m sure that the game will be played in a great atmosphere.

‘It should be the kind of atmosphere that anyone in football would wish to play in. Football matches should be a party.’