Turkey defender Alpay yesterday claimed England captain David Beckham spat on the badge of his national team shirt during the ill-tempered Euro 2004 qualifier in Istanbul.

The Aston Villa player has come under fire from England players and the media since returning to the country after he goaded Beckham when the Real Madrid midfielder missed a first-half penalty.

Beckham then appeared to catch Alpay in the chin with his head.

That was followed by the Villa man poking Beckham in the face as the players made their way off the pitch at half-time.

However, he insisted Beckham had provoked him and told Sky Sports News: ''Number one, Beckham headbutted me and number two he spat at me. If the spit had hit me on the head I wouldn't have been annoyed but it hit the crescent and the star on my Turkey shirt.

''I really wanted to retaliate but I didn't and that's the only reason why I was annoyed.''

Despite Blackburn midfielder Tugay claiming he did foul Liverpool's Steven Gerrard for the penalty, centre-back Alpay feels the award was incorrect.

More controversially, Alpay now claims he did not say anything to Beckham after the former Manchester United star had skied the ball over the bar after his left foot gave way just as he was about to strike with his right.

''We've never been able to beat England before, that's why we were so determined and stressed on the day,'' added Alpay through an interpreter.

''I don't think the penalty should have been given and when Beckham missed it I felt the urge to go over and say that even if he tried a thousand times he would still miss it, but I didn't say anything.''

Despite Alpay clearly taunting Beckham, he then went back for a second bite of the cherry after the half-time whistle, poking a finger in the face of his opponent as they trudged off Fenerbahce's Surku Saracoglu Stadium pitch.

Beckham was then seen running after Alpay, which resulted in England's security officer Ray Whitworth chasing after the feuding duo.

Soon after, an unseemly melee followed involving players and officials from both sides, with each nation accusing the other of starting the fight.

Alpay claims he was not involved as he said: ''I wasn't in the fight in the tunnel and I didn't see anything.

''Maybe they started fighting in the tunnel because of what happened in the penalty area between me and Beckham. But how things have got to this stage, I can't believe it.''

Both Alpay and Beckham were called to the referee Pierluigi Collina's changing room during the interval, with the Italian having harsh words with the two feuding players. ''The only thing the referee Collina said to me and Beckham was 'you are both professional players, don't make it hard on me, play like gentlemen,''' confirmed Alpay.

''But I'm very sad at the way things have turned out. I can't leave my house because the press are outside all the time.''

Alpay will now play no part in Sunday's derby clash with Birmingham after Villa opted to give him the rest of the week off.

Alpay has been allowed time away with his family, with the 30-year-old grateful to manager David O'Leary for his understanding and insistent he still has a future at the club upon his return.

''The coach of Aston Villa took me to one side and said to me 'I know you're stressed with everything that's been going on, but more importantly how's your family coping?''' said Alpay.

''My family's morale is pretty low. He said to me he was going to give me leave to be with my family for three days.

''After that I'll come back and we'll pick up where we left off. I am very grateful to O'Leary.''

Villa's spokesman Phil Mepham confirmed yesterday: ''Alpay reported for training this morning.

''He's had a short meeting with the manager. He's been given some extra time off to spend with his family and as a consequence he won't be a part of the preparation for Sunday.''

Alpay, though, could not resist one final dig at Beckham as he concluded in his interview: ''The world worships Beckham, but 20 Beckhams wouldn't make one Emre or Hakan Sukur.'