Turkish Coach Terim: Juventus Will Go to Istanbul
Copyright � 1998 Nando Media
Copyright � 1998 Agence France-Presse
BOLOGNA, Italy (Nov 29, 1998 - 12:21 EST) - Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim claimed that Juventus will definitely play his team in Istanbul next week, following a meeting on Sunday with Juventus' Marcello Lippi.
The European Champions League tie was postponed last week because of safety fears, following a political crisis between Rome and Ankara over Italy's refusal to extradite Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan.
The match was re-scheduled for this Wednesday, although Juventus players have been warning that they may yet boycott the tie because of the anti-Italian sentiment there.
The two football coaches met for half-an-hour here on Sunday before Juventus' Serie A league match against Bologna, and afterwards shook hands before the waiting photographers.
"After this meeting I am convinced that Juventus will come and play in Istanbul next Wednesday," Terim said.
"I feel like an ambassador between the two countries, but in fact it was an invitation which came from Juventus. I'm taking the place of the Turkish government."
Stressing that the Italian club would not be a target for the Istanbul crowd, he said: "No-one has it in for Juventus because it wasn't Juventus who took the decision over Ocalan, it was the parliament."
"Juventus can come as my guests and there won't be any problems," he said.
Lippi made only a brief comment on the meeting with Terim, saying: "I think it was a diplomatic mission."
