ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter says FIFA is considering banning the playing of national anthems before international matches to help avoid crowd trouble.
Players and officials from Turkey and Switzerland fought after their World Cup match in Istanbul last week. Both teams complained that opposing fans whistled during the other's national anthem in the two-leg playoff.
"I feel this whistling shows a great lack of respect and disparaging to national pride," Blatter said Tuesday in an interview with Swiss weekly Schweizer Illustrierte. "I wonder, therefore, whether it even makes sense to play these national anthems.
"When emotions and passions become tied together with excessive nationalism," Blatter added. "Then it gets explosive."
Switzerland lost the match 4-2 but advanced on away goals after the two-leg playoff was tied at 4-4.
Also, Blatter said FIFA was considering playing big matches, such as World Cup playoffs, at neutral venues.
"We will also have to be considering whether such playoff matches would be better played in the future at a neutral ground, where proper organization can be ensured," Blatter said.