csconstantine.com

ANKARA, Turkey (AP)—Turkey’s parliament has approved legislation aimed at stemming hooliganism at football matches and other competitions.

The legislation, passed late Thursday, introduces up to six years in prison for fans who dismantle seats, two years in prison for fans who chant racial slurs and obscenities in or around stadiums and one-year prison terms for spectators who attempt to bring guns, sharp objects or flares to sports events.

The legislation was pushed by the Turkish Football Federation, which has vowed to adopt zero tolerance toward hooliganism. The Turkish football league is frequently marred by crowd trouble, with fans lighting up flares, throwing objects and yelling obscenities to taunt opposition teams and referees.

In the latest example of unruly crowd behavior, spectators threw a lighter at Austria goalkeeper Juergen Macho during a 2012 European Championship qualifier in Istanbul on Tuesday. He was not injured.

A large glass bottle was also thrown on the field during a derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray in Istanbul on March 18.

With the new legislation, fans can only purchase electronic tickets using government ID numbers, making it easier to track and punish troublemakers.

Fans deemed to be drunk or under the influence of drugs will be refused entry to events, while anyone involved in hooliganism will be barred from competitions for a year.

In a bid to tackle match-fixing, individuals caught bribing players or paying fees to teams as incentives face a maximum 12 years in prison.

Turkey is at the center of a European match-fixing scandal, currently under investigation by police in Germany, in which 270 matches in at least nine domestic leagues and international competitions are under suspicion.

In 2000, two fans of English club Leeds were stabbed to death in Istanbul, ruining Turkey’s reputation internationally.

Labels: hooliganism, tackle, tries, Turkey

Freddy Adu made his debut for Rizespor, announcing himself in style as he notched two assists for the side, helping them cruise to a 3-0 victory over Orduspor.

Going ahead after just 13 minutes, Mithat Yasar’s looping strike from the top of the box put Rizespor in the driver’s seat, and the Sparrowhawks never looked back.  At the hour mark, Freddy Adu burst through the center of midfield to find Gokhan Kaba just outside the opposition area where Kaba did well to control and coolly double his side’s lead. 

17 minutes later, Adu popped up again, holding off his defender well and using a bit of creativity to find Kaba yet again and put him in on goal.  As the striker struggled to get his shot off, he was hacked down in the box, earning a penalty for the home side, which he easily stroked home.

Adu was given a well-earned substitution in the 84th minute, with Mehmet Al entering the match for a cameo appearance.

Freddy Adu, Caykur Rizespor (Turkey)

Vs. Orduspor, 3-0, 84 Minutes, 2 Assists

See above.

Next up: Away to Gungoren Belediyespor, Sunday, February 27

Jozy Altidore, Bursaspor (Turkey)

Vs. Gaziantepspo, 1-4, 32 minutes  (Injured)

Jozy Altidore started for Bursaspor, but played only 32 minutes for the home side before picking up a mild ankle sprain.  Bursaspor struggled to a 4-1 defeat in front of their own fans, and Altidore will hope to return to fitness as soon as possible to aid his on-loan club’s on-field fortunes.

Away to Bucaspor, Friday, February 25

Carlos Bocanegra, St. Etienne (France)

Away to Marseille, 1-2, 90 Minutes 

Bocanegra and St. Etienne lost for the second time in a row over the weekend as Marseille weathered a very late comeback attempt to defeat Les Verts 2-1.  Lucho Gonzalez scored in the 68th minute or the home side and Loic Remy doubled the lead just 10 minutes later to make it 2-0.  Christophe Landrin pulled one back for St. Etienne in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but there was simply not enough time to get a second.

Next up: Vs. Nice, Saturday, February 26

Charlie Davies, Sochaux (France)

Charlie Davies has signed a one-year loan deal with DC United to play in the MLS.  According to The Washington Post the deal includes around $180,000 plus incentives, as well as an option to buy Davies at the end of the loan.

Steve Cherundolo, Hannover 96 (Germany)

Vs. Kaiserslautern, 3-0, 90 minutes

Steve Cherundolo captained Hannover from his traditional right back spot as they  beat Kaiserslautern 3-0 to remain in 4th place in the Bundesliga.  DaMarcus Beasley was not included in the substitutes for Hannover.

Next up: Away to St. Pauli, Saturday, February 26

DaMarcus Beasley, Hannover 96 (Germany)

Vs. Kaiserslautern, 3-0, Did Not Play

See above.

Next up: Away to St. Pauli, Saturday, February 26

Ricardo Clark, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Away to Nurnberg, 0-3, Did Not Play

Ricardo Clark continues to sit out for Frankfurt with a fractured cheekbone and did not play in their 3-0 away loss to Nurnberg.  20-year-old American-German Timothy Chandler played the full 90 for Nurnberg.  

Next up: Vs. Stuttgart, Sunday, February 27

Sacha Kljestan, Anderlecht (Belgium)

Vs. Ajax, 0-3, Did Not Play; Away to Westerlo, 0-2, 45 Minutes 

Sacha Kljestan was an unused substitute for Anderlecht as they were beaten soundly by Ajax in the Europa League by a 3-0 scoreline.  In their return to Belgian Jupiler League action, Kljestan started, but was replaced at halftime in their 2-0 defeat away to Westerlo.  With the loss, Anderlecht now sits level on points with Genk but in 2nd place due to Genk’s +38 against Anderlecht’s+37 goal differential.

Next up: Away to Ajax, Thursday, February 24

Oguchi Onyewu, FC Twente Enschede (Holland)

Away to Rubin Kazan, 2-0, 90 minutes; Vs. NEC, 1-1, 90 Minutes 

Oguchi Onyewu played 90 minutes for FC Twente as they notched a crucial away victory in Russia, beating Rubin Kazan 1-0 in the Europa League.  In their return to Eredivisie action, Onyewu again played 90 minutes, picking up a yellow card as Twente drew 1-1 at home to NEC Nijmegen. 

Next Up: Away to Rubin Kazan, Thursday, February 17

Square Passes

18-year-old U-20 USMNT player Bobby Wood made an appearance for 1860 Munich in the 89th minute as they fell 1-0 to Erzgebirge on Monday in the 2. Bundesliga.  Continuing league play, 1860 lost again to FC Augsburg, but Wood saw no action off the bench.

Goalkeeper David Yelldell played the full 90 in goal for Duisburg as they drew 0-0 with FC Augsburg in the 2. Bundesliga.

Luis Robles played 90 minutes for Karlsruhe as as they beat FSV Frankfurt 2-1 in the 2. Bundesliga.

Edson Buddle started for FC Ingolstadt, playing 66 minutes as they fell 2-0 to Greuther Furth.

Charles Kazlauskas played the full 90 for Helmond Sport as they beat RBC Roosendaal in the Dutch Eerste Divisie. 

Aaron West's feature "Americans On The Continent" appears every Monday on Goal.com.

Follow Goal.com on  to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's

Labels: Americans, Continent, Goalcom, Turkey

GENEVA (AP)—Europe’s biggest betting operators say they have found no evidence of suspicious wagers on two international football friendlies being investigated by FIFA for possible match-fixing.

The European Sports Security Association group says betting coups connected to match-fixing typically involve crime syndicates in illegal markets in central and eastern Europe and Asia.

ESSA spokesman Khalid Ali tells The Associated Press “these bets are not being placed with the regulated, licensed operators.”

FIFA is investigating the Latvia-Bolivia and Estonia-Bulgaria double-header played last Wednesday in Antalya, Turkey. All seven goals were scored from penalties.

An agency which organized the games and the match officials are under suspicion.

Labels: matches, placed, suspect, Turkey