Now Turks want to ban Ericssons

13 April 2012

Mobile phones are set to be banned from Saturday's showdown in Istanbul to stop Turkish fans using them as missiles.

Fearful of Sven-Goran Eriksson being bombarded, the Turkish football authorities were today in discussions with police over ways of protecting England's players and coaching staff.

The mobile move follows an incident at a domestic league match when an outraged fan threw an old Ericsson 688 onto the pitch.

Missile throwing is a big problem in Turkey and a major clampdown has been promised ahead of the crucial Euro 2004 qualifier at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

All 42,000 fans will be subjected to body searches on their way into the ground. Coins, lighters and other items that could be launched from the stands will be confiscated.

Bizarrely, the ban also extends to umbrellas after one was used as part of a shower of missiles which rained down on players during last month's Galatasaray-Fenerbahce derby.

Metin Kazacloglu. deputy general secretary of the Turkish Football Federation, said: "It has been decided not to allow lighters, coins and anything else that can be used in that way. Even if it is raining, it will be forbidden to bring umbrellas. We are also discussing mobile phones because they can be thrown as well."

Red flares, which are so often seen lighting up the stands at big games in Turkey, may be banned as well. The behaviour of Turkish fans is in the spotlight after the national federation was fined £22,000 following missile-throwing during the 3-2 victory over Macedonia in June.

On that occasion, Macedonia midfielder Sasko Lazarevski was struck on the head and riot police had to form a shield to protect any visiting player taking a corner.

A Turkish federation spokesman said: "Our only wish is that Turkish football will emerge from this important match with its face unblackened."

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