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FAN-FAVOURITE TRACK SECURES 2027 F1 RETURN TO TURKISH GP SIGNS NEW DEAL

The Turkish Grand Prix will return to the F1 calendar next year.

Turkey last hosted F1 in 2021

The Turkish Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027 after agreeing a major new deal.

The race will be held at the popular Istanbul Park near Tuzla, which last held races during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. It will be the first race of a fresh five-year agreement for Turkey to host grands prix.

Turkey first staged an F1 race in 2005 and was a regular fixture on the calendar until 2012 when it was dropped after no deal could be reached. While attendances were often poor, the Istanbul track provided good races.

The 2010 edition was particularly memorable, with Red Bull pair Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber wiping each other out and paving the way for an epic battle between the McLaren's of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

In 2020, Hamilton sealed a record-equalling seventh world championship at the Turkish Grand Prix by winning the race. Valtteri Bottas took victory for Mercedes the last time Turkey staged an F1 race in 2021.

Turkey will effectively be a replacement for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which will be held for the last time this year, with a new race in Madrid taking over as the home of the Spanish Grand Prix.

F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Türkiye and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1.

“As a city, Istanbul represents a cultural gateway between Europe and Asia, offering a unique blend of history and tradition with a forward-thinking approach to sport, business, and entertainment.

“I want to thank His Excellency President Mr. Erdoğan, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation for their support in securing Formula 1’s return.

“Many memorable moments have been made in our sport’s history at Istanbul Park and I’m excited to begin the next chapter of our partnership, giving fans the opportunity to experience even more incredible racing in a truly fantastic location.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “Formula 1’s return to Türkiye is a powerful reflection of the continued global growth and appeal of our sport, and I am delighted to see the Turkish Grand Prix rejoin the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar.

"Istanbul Park is a circuit that holds a special place in Formula 1 history, and its return underlines our shared commitment to expanding the championship in dynamic markets.”

- Lewis Larkam

TWINS FROM KENYA WON TOGETHER IN ISTANBUL

Kenyan TWIN brothers Alex Matata and Charles Matata won the Istanbul Half Marathon 2026 together after running the whole race side by side 🇰🇪

They finished together at the same time, sharing the win 

Alex, the defending champion, won the race in 60:01, but his brother Charles was right there with him.

#Athletics #Kenya #IstanbulHalfMarathon #Running #Champions #dhktv #champions

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SPAIN ROMPS AS GERMANY WINS FIRST WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

Spain's Mikel Merino celebrates after scoring a hat-trick in his side's 6-0 dismantling of Turkey. Photo: Reuters

Mikel Merino scored a hat-trick as a majestic Spain thumped Turkey 6-0 away in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, while a brilliant Florian Wirtz free-kick helped Germany beat Northern Ireland 3-1 to get their bid up and running.

European champions Spain were in unstoppable form in the central Turkish city of Konya, claiming their second biggest-ever away win in World Cup qualifying as Arsenal midfielder Merino scored his first professional hat-trick.

Barcelona playmaker Pedri Gonzalez opened the scoring inside six minutes and later completed the scoring, with Ferran Torres netting the visitors' other goal.

The quality of Merino's strikes was remarkable, with his first coming at the end of a superb team move and his second a controlled finish from a Pedri assist. He completed his triple with a curling shot into the top corner.

The one blemish on the night's work for Spain was the withdrawal of Nico Williams due to an apparent thigh injury, but Luis de la Fuente's team are already clear at the top of qualifying Group E with six points from two games.

"I'm very happy for winning, to pick up six points, for doing it in this way, and for scoring three goals, which is not normal – the first hat-trick of my career," said Merino.

The group winners will qualify directly for the finals, with the runners-up progressing to a play-off phase.

Georgia and Turkey come next on three points each, with the former beating Bulgaria 3-0 in Tbilisi thanks to goals by captain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nika Gagnidze and Georges Mikautadze.

Germany were under pressure after losing their opening qualifier 2-0 in Slovakia on Thursday, and it took them until the final quarter of their home meeting with Northern Ireland in Cologne before they could secure the victory.

Serge Gnabry gave the hosts an early lead only for Isaac Price of West Bromwich Albion to equalise before half-time.

The home fans were unhappy with Julian Nagelsmann's team, but they eventually retook the lead on 69 minutes when substitute Nadiem Amiri turned in David Raum's cross.

Liverpool star Wirtz, playing in his home city, then took centre stage by converting a free-kick in style to seal Germany's first win in Group A.

"We knew it was a catastrophe (in the) last game and we wanted to do things better," Wirtz told Germany's RTL network.

"It was a good performance (which) we can definitely build on."

They and Northern Ireland both have three points, while Slovakia lead the way on six points after Tomas Rigo's late goal clinched a 1-0 victory in Luxembourg.

Memphis Depay became the Netherlands' all-time top goalscorer with a brace in their 3-2 win in Lithuania in Group G.

Depay, who now plays in Brazil for Corinthians, scored his 51st and 52nd international goals to move clear of Robin van Persie, with whom he had been tied in first place on half a century of strikes for the Oranje.

Ronald Koeman's side have 10 points after four matches and are ahead of Poland on goal difference with a game in hand.

Poland won 3-1 at home to Finland in Chorzow with Matty Cash, captain Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Kaminski netting before Benjamin Kaellman pulled one back for Finland, who are three points behind the leading duo in third.

Belgium recorded a second 6-0 win in as many matches in Group J as they swept aside Kazakhstan at Anderlecht's stadium in Brussels.

North Macedonia beat Liechtenstein 5-0 in the same group and they are top with 11 points from five matches, one ahead of Belgium – who have a game in hand – and Wales. 

- AFP

SPAIN THRASH TURKEY 0-6 😲

TURKIYE CAME BACK FROM BEHIND TO BEAT USMNT | USMNT 1-TURKIYE 2

 

UEFA CONFIRM QUALIFICATION SYSTEM FOR EURO 2028 COMPETITION

epa10911066 The UEFA Euro trophy is pictured after the UK and Ireland were elected to host the Euro 2028 fooball tournament during the UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 hosts announcement ceremony at UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, 10 October 2023. EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

UEFA have announced the qualifying system to enter the EURO 2028 tournament, with news host nations England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will not be given automatic participation.

As is often to case now, the competition will be hosted not by a single nation, but with a combination of different countries sharing the venues.

Italy and Turkey will be co-hosts for the EURO 2032 tournament.

epa10911065 The UEFA Euro trophy is pictured after Italy and Turkey were elected to host the Euro 2032 fooball tournament during the UEFA EURO 2028 and 2032 hosts announcement ceremony at UEFA Headquarters, in Nyon, Switzerland, 10 October 2023. EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

Number of EURO 2028 co-hosts poses problem for UEFA

In the case of EURO 2028, it will be England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

As having all four of those given an automatic berth would reduce the options for others, UEFA has confirmed they will all have to come through qualifying.

Italy are vying to be one of the 20 nations qualifying for the competition, with 12 going through as group winners, and eight as the best-placed runners-up.

There are four remaining spots to be assigned, two will go to the two best-ranked host nations who failed to qualify directly.

Another two are assigned via play-offs between the remaining runners-up and the sides who ranked best in the 2026-27 Nations League, but still didn’t qualify as group winners.

This means the number of spots open via the play-offs will depend on how many of the co-host nations qualify.

The qualification schedule should be finalised this autumn.

EURO 2024 was won by Spain.

- Susy Campanale

JOSÉ MOURINHO BANNED FOR FOUR MATCHES, FINED AFTER TURKISH REFEREES COMMENT

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been given a four-match ban and fined by the Turkish Football Federation following his comments about Turkish referees after a match at Galatasaray on Monday

Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho was given a four-match ban and fined by the Turkish Football Federation following his comments about Turkish referees after a match at Galatasaray.

- The Hindu Times

GALATASARAY REMAIN UNBEATEN IN TURKISH SÜPA LIG

 

EURO 2024: 'PROUD' SAKA EARNS ENGLAND PENALTY REDEMPTION

Bukayo Saka was England's key man as they reached the semifinals of Euro 2024. Richard Pelham/Getty Images

 Bukayo Saka, who missed a penalty in his country's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy and was subsequently the victim of racist abuse, was England's hero with a superb individual goal and spot-kick success against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Saturday.

Saka, who stood out for England and scored their all-important equaliser on Saturday, said he was proud of how he has overcome that moment.

"To come back from something like that was really difficult. I used it to make me stronger. Today I took the chance and I'm happy," the Arsenal winger said.

"It was special, special, how we fought back ... Last time we took a penalty shootout at the Euros, you all know what happened. I'm so proud of everyone how we got over the line.

"I believed. I felt that we dominated the whole game, that the chance [for a goal] will come. And it did come and I was the one that took it, so I'm proud of myself for that."

Only 19 during that infamous shootout loss to Italy at Wembley, Saka's confidence could have been shattered by the invective he and other Black players received online.

But he recovered quickly -- helped by coach Gareth Southgate's support, a massive groundswell of public affection, and a backlash against the abusers -- and continued to show fine form for Arsenal in the Premier League and for England.

Now Saka is a popular figure and, at age 22, almost a veteran of the national team, with 38 appearances and 12 goals.

Saturday's game might have been the most special of them all.

Saka first hit a glorious curling equaliser when England were 1-0 down in their quarterfinal against the Swiss and on their way out of the tournament. Then, when the game finished at 1-1 after extra time, he was one of England's five successful penalty takers in the 5-3 shootout victory.

"[Saka] is so brave," Southgate said after England booked their place in the semifinals, where they will face the Netherlands on Wednesday. "He's one of our best. So we were never in any question that he was going to take one [penalty].

"But we all know what he went through. And to deliver as he did."

England's footballing history is littered with painful shootout failures, but Saka said he felt calm in the moment.

"You fail once, but I'm the sort of guy who wants to put myself in the position again," he said. "I know there's a lot of nervous people watching, like my family, but I kept my cool and scored my penalty."

Trent Alexander-Arnold converted the winning penalty for England and declared he was not nervous as he stepped up to take the decisive spot kick.

Manuel Akanji saw Switzerland's first penalty saved by Jordan Pickford, while England were immaculate in the shootout, with Alexander-Arnold powering home the fifth and final spot kick to send England to a second consecutive European Championship semifinal.

"It's what we practice, a lot of practice goes into that moment, the moments that I enjoy," Alexander-Arnold told the BBC after the game.

"My belly doesn't drop, I enjoy it, I practise it. I knew what spot. I knew I just needed to execute it. And I went out and did that."

Alexander-Arnold also praised Pickford for his heroics, saying the save coming so early in the shootout gave England's takers added faith.

"Pickers [goalkeeper Pickford] made an amazing save, to start a shootout like that gives us great confidence," the Liverpool player said. "Every game so far has gone into extra time in the quarterfinals so you know the tight margins. The finest of margins today, but we were able to win."

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

NETHERLANDS 2-1 TURKEY | POST MATCH ANALYSIS

EURO QUARTERFINALS FIXTURES | EURO 2024

 

UEFA SUSPENDS TURKEY PLAYER MERIH DEMIRALFOE 2 GAMES FOR MAKING NATIONALISTIC GESTER AT EURO 2024

 BERLIN (AP) — UEFA suspended Turkey player Merih Demiral for two matches on Friday for making a controversial hand gesture at the European Championship, an incident that has led to a diplomatic row between Turkey and host nation Germany.

Turkey's vice president, Cevdet Yilmaz, denounced the decision as unacceptable and called for it to be “corrected.”

“The excitement and beauty of football should not be overshadowed by political decisions,” Yilmaz said.

The ban rules Demiral out of his team's quarterfinal against the Netherlands on Saturday, and the semifinal, should Turkey progress.

After scoring his second goal in Turkey's round-of-16 win against Austria, Demiral made a sign with each hand that is used by Turkish nationalists and associated with the Turkish ultra-nationalist organization Ulku Ocaklari, which is more widely known as the Gray Wolves.

Demiral had said it was an innocent expression of national pride and that he was hoping he’d have “more opportunities to do the same gesture again.”

It was condemned by German interior minister Nancy Faeser and other German politicians, leading to a harsh rebuke from Turkish authorities and the summoning of the German ambassador.

UEFA said it banned Demiral “for failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.”

Speaking before the decision, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is due to attend Saturday's game in Berlin, said the 26-year-old defender had merely expressed his “excitement” after scoring against Austria.

The Turkish soccer association had no immediate reaction to the ban, though Turkish media reports said the association would appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

Omer Celik, the spokesman for Erdogan's ruling party, criticized UEFA's ban as a “an extremely wrong decision.” He suggested that the governing body had bowed to the influence of “certain pressure groups.”

“UEFA’s decision has cast a shadow of political influence over football,” Celik wrote on the social media platform X.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the decision "has reinforced the view that there is an increase in the tendency to act with prejudice against foreigners in certain European countries.”

Demiral was previously one of 16 Turkey players reprimanded in 2019 for making military-style salutes at games at a time when the country was conducting a military offensive in Syria.

The Gray Wolves group was founded as the youth wing of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, which is currently in an alliance with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, the Justice and Development Party.

In the decades following its founding in the 1960s, the group was accused of in the involvement in politically motivated violence, mostly against leftist groups.

___

Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.

- CIARÁN FAHEY

DEMIRAL DOUBLE POWERS TURKEY PAST AUSTRIA INTO EURO 2024 QUARTER-FINALS

Reuters 

 Turkey's Merih Demiral struck in each half and their goalkeeper Mert Gunok pulled off a superb stoppage-time save as they secured a high-octane 2-1 victory over Austria on Tuesday to book their spot in Euro 2024's last eight.

The central defender, who was man-of-the-match, scored after 57 seconds and added another with a powerful header just before the hour to set up a quarter-final on Saturday in Berlin against the Netherlands, who beat Romania 3-0 earlier on Tuesday.

Austria cut the deficit through Michael Gregoritsch midway through the second half and were denied in the final seconds when Christoph Baumgartner's header was kept out by a stunning one-handed stop from Gunok.

Celebrations broke out across many cities in Germany at the final whistle as thousands of Turks took to the streets, honking car horns, waving flags and chanting, with their national team eyeing a repeat of their Euro 2008 semi-final run.

"This match was a very important match," said Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella. "It was a match where we reflected the team spirit from the first minute to the last minute."

"This is actually a historic result, we have matched 2008 in terms of victories. This is very important. We are advancing step by step."

For tournament dark horses Austria, it was a bitter end to their European Championship with the team still waiting for their first win in a knockout match at any major tournament since 1954.

FANTASTIC START

The Turks snatched the lead in a frantic start to the game when Demiral pounced on a goalmouth scramble following a corner to fire into the roof of the net for the fastest ever goal in a Euros knockout match.

Turkey were happy to leave possession to Austria, who beat them 6-1 in a friendly back in March, but kept pressing high and looked to catch them on the break, disrupting their opponents' usual no-frills playing style.

Reuters 

Despite missing suspended captain Hakan Calhanoglou, the hard-charging Turks kept Austria at bay, with Ralf Rangnick's side having no efforts on target in the first half.

The Austrians came out fighting following the break, picking up the pace and should have levelled six minutes after the restart when captain Marko Arnautovic was sent through with only the keeper to beat but his shot was blocked by Gunok.

Instead it was the Turks who struck again with Demiral beating two players in the air to head home from yet another corner by the excellent teenager Arda Guler for a 2-0 lead in the 59th minute.

Amid pouring rain, Austria pulled a goal back when substitute Gregoritsch finished at the far post in the 66th and they reached a total of 20 attempts on goal as they kept pushing forward in search of an equaliser.

Baumgartner thought he had got it with his added-time header but Gunok pulled off the save of the match, and possibly the Euros, by palming it wide to protect their slim lead.

"We didn't have the necessary luck. I believe if the game had gone to extra time we would have had a chance to win, the Turks were fairly exhausted towards the end," said Rangnick.

"The team tried everything, we scored, had chances to score but it's difficult if you have Gordon Banks in goal," he added, recalling the former England keeper's stunning stop to deny Brazil's Pele at the 1970 World Cup.

- Reuters 

TURKEY 0-3 POSTUGAL | POST MATCH ANALYSIS | EURO 2024