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FIFA Ponders Punishment for Fan Misbehavior

update

The International Football Federation says it should decide by early next year what punishment to hand down for bad fan behavior at this month's World Cup qualifying playoff between Turkey and Switzerland.

FIFA said in a statement that it questioned 22 people in the first round of hearings about the November 16 match. The statement said that the results of the investigation would determine what sanctions to impose.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said he would consider banning Turkey from the 2010 World Cup. The world governing body then said it would expand the investigation into other incidents involving the two teams, including at the first-leg playoff match in Switzerland.

The Swiss team complained it was delayed several hours at passport control in Istanbul before Turkish fans taunted the team, and pelted its bus with rocks and eggs.

Swiss and Turkish players were also involved in a brawl in the stadium tunnel after Turkey won the second-leg match 4-2, but Switzerland advanced on the away goals rule.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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