Istanbul: The Turkish Football Association said on Wednesday it was preparing for a "legal war" against the sanctions that FIFA slapped on Turkey for the violence that marred its November World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.
"We did not expect such a heavy penalty. We are shocked," association president Haluk Ulusoy said at the Ataturk airport after flying in from Zurich, where the sanctions were announced on Tuesday.
"We will launch a legal war. We will make the most intensive efforts to secure a reduction from the penalties," he said.
FIFA ordered Turkey to play their next six official home games behind closed doors at a neutral venue and pay all organizational costs, handed out a 200,000 Swiss francs (129,000 euro) fine and banned three of their players.
Ulusoy said the federation would lodge an appeal at FIFA's appeals committee, and if its ruling fails to be satisfactory the matter would be taken to the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS).
The sanctions mean that Turkey will play none of their Euro 2008 qualification matches at home.
A lawyer for the federation said Turkey was optimistic particularly about the outcome of the planned application to CAS.
"We hope we will be able to play at least several of the matches at home," he said.
The Turkish press was also furious about the sanctions.
"Why not just hang us?" asked the mass-circulation Hurriyet, describing the punishment as the "heaviest in the history" of world football's governing body.
"This is not punishment, it is execution," screamed the popular Aksam. "FIFA has crucified Turkey."
The three players suspended for their part in the fracas after the November 16 match in Istanbul are Alpay Ozalan and Emre Belozoglu, who were banned for six international matches, and Serkan Balci, who was slapped a two-match ban.
Assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek, who has since resigned his position, was banned from taking part in "any football-related activity" for a year.
The four were given also fines of between 5,000 and 15,000 Swiss francs.
The brawl broke out as the players were leaving the pitch after the end of the game, which Turkey won 4-2, but failed to qualify for World Cup 2006 on the away goals rule, having lost the first leg 2-0.
Ozdilek was caught on camera trying to trip Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami as the visiting team rushed to the dressing rooms.
He was then kicked by Switzerland's Benjamin Huggel, who went on to hurl himself at Ozalan. The two grappled and fell to the ground as the scene exploded into a free-for-all.
On the Swiss side, FIFA suspended Huggel for six matches and fined 15,000 Swiss francs, while physiotherapist Stephan Meyer received a two-match ban and a 6,500 Swiss franc fine.
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