Turkey captain Arda Turan, who plays club ball for Barcelona, quit his national team in the wake of a clash with CNN Turk reporter Bilal Mese, who said Turan hurledinsults and swung punches at him despite being restrained by another journalist, a security guard, and team personnel. “At first, I thought he was joking. …Then, one of his punches swung by,” saidMese.
The clash came following Turkey’s 0-0 tie at Macedonia.
Turkey is fourth in the World Cup qualifying Group I standings eight points from five games, five points behind leader Croatiaand two behind second-placed Iceland.