ISTANBUL, Feb 8: Turkish media responded angrily on Wednesday to Turkey being ordered to play their next six home matches abroad and behind closed doors, saying it reflected political hostility to their country in Europe.

The sanctions imposed by soccer’s governing body FIFA followed a brawl after a qualifier against Switzerland in Istanbul that ended Turkey’s hopes of reaching the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Turkey has vowed to appeal against the ruling, which the country’s sports minister described as politically motivated.

“A clash of civilisations,” said a headline in the Islamic-leaning Yeni Safak newspaper.

“The increasing political hostility in Europe is reflected in the decisions of FIFA’s disciplinary committee.”

Swiss media said Turkey had been let off lightly — there had been speculation the team could be banned from the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign after the violent scenes.

Mass daily “Blick” said: “Verdict is ridiculously soft”.

The sanctions, which apply to official matches and not friendlies, are among the most severe handed out to a national association and Turkish papers said they unfairly punished fans.

In effect they mean Turkey must play their entire qualification programme for the 2008 European championship abroad. They are with European champions Greece, Norway, Bosnia, Hungary, Moldova and Malta in qualifying Group C.

“What is the spectator’s crime? An unjust punishment from FIFA,” the daily Sabah newspaper said in a front-page headline.—Reuters