Turkey suspends football as club president Faruk Koca assaults top referee Halil Umut Meler
MKE Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, physically assaulted top referee Halil Umut Meler after a Super Lig match. The incident unfolded as players and officials joined to stop the fight, with Meler being punched to the ground and subsequently kicked in the head.
The match was full of controversy, with Meler issuing red cards to one player from each team and allowing an injury-time equalizer for Rizespor, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The aftermath of the game, however, took a more sinister turn as Koca's attack on the referee led to his arrest for «injuring and threatening a public servant due to his public duty,» according to Turkish Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunc.
Turkish Football Federation (TFF) condemned the assault, attributing it to a toxic culture towards referees perpetuated by players and club officials over the years.
The TFF announced the suspension of all matches indefinitely, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised the importance of sports as a platform for «peace and brotherhood.»
The TFF, in a statement, laid blame on the pervasive negative rhetoric directed at referees by club presidents, managers, coaches, and TV commentators, stating that such behavior laid the groundwork for the reprehensible attack on Meler. The federation vowed to pursue severe punishments for those responsible for the assault.
Both Meler and Koca were hospitalized, with Koca expected to be detained after receiving treatment. MKE Ankaragucu issued a public apology for the incident, expressing regret to the Turkish football public and the
