Turkey face disqualification after bizarre pull-out

GLASGOW, June 15 (Reuters) Turkey risk disqualification after abandoning their match with Iceland in a bizarre episode at the Sudirman Cup world team badminton championship today.

The Turks were playing in a division six playoff match but called a halt after losing the opening women's singles.

The other four games were forfeit because the squad had to catch a plane two hours later en route to London and then home to Istanbul.

Turkey assistant coach Mutlu Turkmen told reporters: ''We have been searching for alternative flights but there were none so we have to leave early.

''Two of our players have university entrance examinations tomorrow. They are just once a year so they have got to be there.'' He added: ''One of our officials in our country said they could find alternatives flights, not from London but maybe Munich to Istanbul, but yesterday he said there were no alternatives so we have had to leave early.'' Turkmen said: ''I know our responsibilities but there have been developments outside our control.'' Tournament referee Keith Hawthorne said he would be recommending Turkey be disqualified which would mean relegation to a lower division next time the Cup is contested in 2009.

He rejected the exams dilemma, saying: ''I am afraid to me that is not an excuse.

''If you know that before the event, which they did, you don't book your flights back or you bring in extra players to play in the event.'' Hawthorne added: ''This has never happened before. It is a world-class event and they are treating it as a club match where they can come and go whenever they like.

''It is totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned.'' The week-long Sudirman Cup reaches the semi-final stage tomorrow when holders China meet South Korea and Indonesia play England.

REUTERS TB BD1646