UEFA officials could be forced into an emergency meeting should Turkey’s injury crisis deepen ahead of their Euro 2008 semi-final against Germany on Wednesday.
Coach Fatih Terim had only 15 available outfield players for their dramatic victory over Croatia, three of whom will be banned for the clash in Basel after picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament.
Nihat Kahveci is also set to miss the game with a thigh complaint, joining Servet Cetin, Tumer Metin and Emre Belozoglu on the treatment table.
Emre Gungor has already been ruled out of the tournament and goalkeeper Volkan Demirel will find out tomorrow if an appeal against his suspension has been successful.
Terim refused to call up a player when replacements were allowed, but should he need to now then a request would have to be made to UEFA.
‘If a team, for instance, only has eight players then there will probably be an emergency meeting but at this stage we have not had any requests,’ said UEFA director of communications William Gaillard.
The good news for Terim is midfielder Mehmet Aurelio returning from suspension.
Terim’s selection problems means Colin-Kazim Richards is likely to feature, giving the London-born former Sheffield United forward a chance to be a hero.
‘There is always a chance to be a hero but if we win the cup I won’t mind if it is someone else,’ said the Fenerbahce forward.
‘You have ambition and personally you want to be the hero and you want to score the goals but it is also a team game.’
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