Galatasaray coach banned for nine matches

Istanbul: Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim was banned for nine matches on Thursday for criticising the referee during a league game against Mersin Idmanyurdu.

Turkey`s Football Federation (TFF) said Terim was guilty of insulting the referee and "unsporting behaviour" during the game while his two assistants received one- and two-game suspensions. The severe sanction means Terim will be barred from six games in the current season and three in the next. Terim was banished to the stands with a number of his coaching staff during Saturday`s game, which Galatasaray won 3-1. The manager, visibly angry, at one point went on to the pitch, slammed the match ball on the ground to show his anger about a string of decisions. Newspapers Hurriyet and Vatan, quoting the official match report, said Terim insulted the referee and a TFF representative. AFP