Turkish football club chair punches referee after match

The Turkish Super League club Ankaragücü Chair Faruk Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler on the stadium field after their match with Çaykur Rizespor which ended in a 1-1 draw. After the attack, the federation head Mehmet Büyükekşi announced that all league matches were postponed indefinitely.

Duvar English

The Turkish Super League club Ankaragücü Chair Faruk Koca and some people accompanying him on Dec. 11 attacked referee Halil Umut Meler who officiated their match with Çaykur Rizespor.

The attack came on Ankaragücü’s stadium field in the capital Ankara after the top league match ended in a 1-1 draw.

The chair Koca ran towards the referee Meler, and punched and knocked him down. Afterwards, people accompanying Koca kicked Meler while he was on the ground. Shortly after, Meler stood up with the help of others.

After the attack, referee Meler's left eye was seen swollen.

Three people, including the Ankaragücü chair, on Dec. 12 were arrested over "injuring a public official with a fracture in the field of sports due to their public duty," Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced.

The Turkish Football Federation head Mehmet Büyükekşi announced that all league matches were postponed indefinitely.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the attack and said "We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports."

Topics Ankaragücü referee attack Football Football in Turkey