UEFA's Infantino sends warning to Turkey over match fixing disgrace

By Andrew Warshaw in Nyon

January 26 – UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino (pictured) today urged the Turkish football authorities to move faster over eradicating match fixing, hinting that sanctions could otherwise follow.

Turkey has been one of the main match fixing culprits in Europe with a spate of arrests and punishments in recent weeks and Infantino warned that UEFA was keeping a sharp eye on proceedings.

Press reports in Turkey recently quoted UEFA President Michel Platini as looking favourably on a prospective bid from the country for the 2020 European Championships, having controversially missed out by one vote to France for 2016.

Istanbul is also planning to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

But Infantino said: “2020 is a long way off but what is important is that the Turkish FA takes the right decisions with regard to this whole match fixing situation.

“The longer it drags on, the worst the climate becomes.

“In situations like this, you need to take responsible decisions.

“You can’t just wait for criminal proceedings to be finalised because they take years.

“Disciplinary proceedings on the sporting side need to go faster.

“It will be an important question in terms of next season’s UEFA competitions.”

Speaking following the conclusion of a two-day UEFA Executive Committee meeting, Infantino also disclosed that fan violence in both Serbia and Croatia had not yet been eradicated to UEFA’s satisfaction.

A year ago, Platini warned both countries faced suspension from European competitions if they could not rein in the hooligans.

“Some progress has been made in both countries but we are not yet there so we will look at it again in six months’ time,” Infantino said.

“In spite of some effort, more needs to be done.”

The Executive Committee was also brought up to date, said Infantino, on talks with European clubs over an insurance policy to cover the salaries of players injured on international duty, and the next four-year international calendar starting in 2015, both strong concerns of the 200-strong European Club Association (ECA).

“We will find a good solution with regards to insurance because we think it’s the right thing to do,” Infantino said.

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