Bastürk worry for Turkey
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Article summary
Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Turkey midfield player Yildiray Bastürk is suffering from hepatitis B.
Article body
Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Turkish international midfielder Yildiray Bastürk has contracted hepatitis B and will be out of action for up to six weeks.
Could miss qualifier
The illness means Bastürk is in danger of missing Turkey's UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier against Liechtenstein on 6 September. Turkey currently top Group 7 by two points from England but have played a game more than their automatic qualification rivals.
Opening game
Leverkusen, who narrowly escaped relegation last season, host promoted SC Freiburg in their first game of the new Bundesliga season on Saturday.