Published on 12.12.2023
The Turkish football association has indefinitely suspended all matches in the country’s football leagues following an incident where a club president punched a referee at the conclusion of a Super Lig match on Monday evening.
Faruk Koca, who serves as the president of Ankaragucu, ran onto the field and physically assaulted Halil Umut Meler, the official overseeing their top-tier game against Rizespor. In response to this act of violence, a Turkish court has issued an arrest warrant for Koca and taken two additional suspects into custody. Yilmaz Tunc, the justice minister, made this announcement on Tuesday.
Referee Halil Umut Mele is comforted by Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan while he recovers in hospital after being punched by Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca. pic.twitter.com/Dbdmd85f16
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 12, 2023
According to Tunc, Koca and his accomplices have been formally arrested for “injuring a public official” after providing statements to prosecutors. He also stated that investigations are being conducted with great care. Furthermore, three other individuals are now subject to judicial controls as part of ongoing proceedings.
Following Rizespor’s 97th-minute equalizing goal during injury time in their match against Ankaragucu which ended in a 1-1 draw, fans from the latter team stormed onto the pitch. During this chaotic scene, Meler was also kicked while he was down; however, it remains unclear who exactly perpetrated these attacks. Eventually, with assistance from law enforcement officials, Meler managed to make his way back to the dressing room.
In light of these events, the Turkish Football Association took decisive action by suspending all matches across its leagues until further notice. This measure is aimed at preserving safety and maintaining order within football competitions throughout Turkey.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his strong condemnation of the attacks, stating that violence has no place in football, whether on or off the field. He specifically referred to the events that occurred after the Turkish Super Lig match between MKE Ankaragucu and Çaykur Rizespor as completely unacceptable and not aligned with either our sport or society.
Infantino emphasized the vital role of match officials in football, highlighting that without them, there would be no game. He stressed that it is crucial for referees, players, fans, and staff to feel safe and secure in order to fully enjoy the sport. The FIFA President called upon relevant authorities to strictly enforce and respect measures ensuring this safety at all levels.
