Juventus Heads to Istanbul
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
TURIN, Italy (Nov 30, 1998 - 10:33 EST) - Juventus will go to Istanbul to play Galatsaray in the European Champions League after all, club officials and players said on Monday, ending fears of a boycott.
Wednesday's tie had been postponed by one week because of a wave of anti-Italian feeling in Turkey, following Italy's refusal to extradite the wanted Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan.
Juventus players had still been threatening not to play the Group B tie, despite UEFA's ruling, fearing for their safety both inside and outside the Galatasray ground.
But after meetings on Monday, the announcement was made by managing director Luciano Moggi, on behalf of the club, and by Italy goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi, on behalf of the players, that the tie would go ahead as planned.
However, the Italian champions remain wary of the trip.
Moggi had earlier told Italian radio: "We are ready and willing to leave, but we're still worried about going there. This a match which you can't feel relaxed about.
"We want guarantees of safety. Last Friday, UEFA sent us and the Turkish (football) federation a copy of a letter in which they called on both governments to provide all the guarantees possible.
"But we want to know exactly what these guarantees are, not simply that they exist... we don't want the match to be played on neutral ground. We just want the necessary assurances.
"We are taken a group of young men to a football match not a war."
