UEFA baulk at England ban

Ticketing was also an important issue on the agenda of the Nyon meeting after reports that it is relatively easy for England fans to buy tickets in Turkey.

UEFA spokesman Mike Lee said: "It is important to get an update on the steps that are being taken. It is about a spirit of cooperation between the two FAs in the build-up to the match." In addition to FA chairman Geoff Thompson and marketing and communications chief Paul Barber, security experts from the Government and the police travelled to Nyon to take part in the meeting.

Arrangements have already been made for undercover British police "spotters" to travel to Istanbul to point out known troublemakers to Turkish police.

Around 1,800 banning orders will also be in place stopping convicted hooligans from travelling.

The hooligans have to hand their passports to police in the run-up to the game. UEFA called the meeting because of increasing tensions between the two FAs in recent weeks.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has already made a TV appeal to the Turks for calm, having previously warned that England fans could be risking their lives by going to the match.

Appeals have also been made to England fans not to travel in club match day programmes.

As Standard Sport revealed yesterday, the FA face a request to send England coach Eriksson on a peace-seeking mission to Istanbul in the run-up to the crucial game. Officials believe a joint press conference with Eriksson and his Turkish counterpart Senol Gunes would help create a calm atmosphere before the game.

Fenerbahce, who play at Sukru Saracoglu stadium - the venue for the qualifier - had their second onematch home ban imposed yesterday because of crowd trouble in a league match against Gaziantepspor two weeks ago.

The club were ordered to play one match behind closed doors last month after dozens of people were injured in a mass brawl during a match against Trabzonspor.