England fans welcome

England captain David Beckham felt obliged to broadcast a plea for good behaviour from fans for last night's friendly against Serbia and Montenegro at Leicester after problems before, during and after the qualifier against Turkey at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in early April.

UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner hinted last week that further trouble involving England hooligans could be punished with expulsion from the competition and the Football Association do not want any fans to travel to Turkey for the return match, which could still be all-important in deciding who qualifies automatically for next summer's European Championship finals in Portugal.

But Rovers' Turkish international star Tugay is convinced the reception for England fans would be a friendly one.

"As far as I'm concerned I'd welcome England fans to Turkey to enjoy the game. If they came to Turkey they'd be welcomed," he said.

"At the end of the day this is a 90-minute game. What happens afterwards should focus on the football, not violence and other side issues.

"If they came to Turkey the atmosphere would be exactly the same as in England. In reality the majority of Turkish fans are very welcoming and hospitable. Turkey is a country that has always opened its doors and welcomed people, but a minority paint a poor image.

"England fans should feel comfortable about coming, but I don't want to encourage them to come without tickets. I've no idea why there is a tension between the fans. I wish I knew."

Tugay emphatically denied making any throat-cutting gestures in the direction of Beckham after the final whistle of the match in April.

He said: "I don't have any bad thoughts about the game and the atmosphere was no different to any other match.

"If people want to make things up after the game then I have to make a statement. I didn't make any death threats and have never made such threats in my career."