Turkish defender Alpay on verge of axe by Japan's Urawa

Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan (pictured), who left English football after a spat with David Beckham, was reported to be on the verge of being fired from a Japanese team after his second red card of the season.

Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan, who left English football after a spat with David Beckham, was reported to be on the verge of being fired from a Japanese team after his second red card of the season.

Alpay, playing for J-League first division club Urawa Red Diamonds, was yellow-carded in Saturday's game against Oita Trinita for a dangerous tackle in the third minute and was sent off seconds later when he kicked a plastic water bottle to show his dissatisfaction.

Alpay also received a red card in the season-opener a month ago for violently pushing down Japanese international striker Takayuki Suzuki of the Kashima Antlers.

Urawa eventually lost both games to remain winless this season with one draw and two defeats.

Urawa officials will meet on Wednesday and are expected to fire Alpay, Japanese sports dailies reported Monday. Club officials were unavailable for comment due to a day off.

"Everybody makes a mistake, so I forgive the first one," Urawa's German coach Guido Buchwald was quoted as saying.

"He did it again to trouble the team. I cannot forgive that. We have to punish him severely. I believe club officials agree with me," Buchwald said.

Urawa president Motoaki Inukai said: "If I'm the head coach, I never use a player who cannot control his own feelings. We have a contract with him until the end of this year, but it doesn't matter."

The 31-year-old defender, who helped Turkey finish third in the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, joined Urawa in June last year and played 10 games last season without a goal.

Alpay taunted England skipper Beckham for missing a penalty during an October 2003 European championship qualifier in Istanbul, leading him to leave English Premiership outfit Aston Villa.