Turkey defender Alpay today claimed England captain David Beckham spat on the badge of his national team shirt during the ill-tempered Euro 2004 qualifier in Istanbul.
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.Alpay has been given time away with his family and will play no part in Aston Villa's derby clash with Birmingham on Sunday.
Villa's head of media and communications confirmed: "Alpay reported for training this morning, he's had a short meeting with the manager [David O'Leary], 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."
O'Leary has allowed the player time off after he spent 10 days away from his family on international duty.
Villa insisted the player had not been put on indefinite leave and reiterated that Alpay would be away for "a few days" which would run up to the Birmingham match.
Alpay felt he was "crucified" in the media following Saturday's match against England and admitted it left him in a difficult position as a player in the Premiership.
The former Fenerbahce and Besiktas player said: "I have heard all about what the supporters are saying at Villa and I have heard what has been written in the English newspapers.
"I think it is all very unfair and I think maybe this will have the effect of deciding my future at Aston Villa once and for all.
"It was just a small incident in a football match and I am being crucified because of the recent history of trouble between the two countries."
Meanwhile, a Turkish Football Association official has insisted there was no racist element to the tunnel melee in Istanbul, but that players on both sides were spitting and punching.
Metin Kazacioglu, an official with the TFF, insisted the melee was not started by a racist remark. He told BBC Radio Five Live: "The incident in the tunnel is not something to do with racism and there are some other players who were spitting and punching etcetera."
Asked whether he meant English or Turkish players, he answered: "Both, both." He continued: "In Turkey we don't have racism. Nobody knows racism and acts for racism.
"The incident in the tunnel between the players was because of the tension in the match, not because of racism."
Kazacioglu insisted the TFF were investigating the incident but could not reveal the names of any players involved.
- England will play a friendly against Denmark on November 16th at Old Trafford as part of their preparations for Euro 2004.